Sept. 28--EDWARDSVILLE -- Three people escaped a suspicious fire that gutted their Edwardsville home early Friday.
The fire started outside, in the rear of the single-family home at 709 Stolze Street, on the northeast side of Edwardsville. Flames got into the eaves of the roof and spread into the attic.
Neighbors called for help at 2:50 a.m., saying that the home was engulfed in flames and that people were trapped inside.
By the time fire crews arrived, a woman and her son and daughter had gotten out safely. Fire Capt. Robert Morgan said the woman's son, in his early 20s, told fire crews he got home early Friday and found nothing amiss. He stayed awake for a little while and began smelling smoke.
He woke up his mother and sister and got everyone out, Morgan said.
Twenty-six firefighters from Edwardsville and Wood River fought the blaze and had it under control in about a half-hour. The fire was out by 4:45 a.m.
Morgan said the Edwardsville fire department and state fire marshal are investigating. "It is suspicious," he said.
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