LAKE ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) – Thirty-two cars are either damaged or destroyed after a carport went up in flames at a Lake St. Louis apartment complex early Monday morning. The fire happened at the Camden Cedar Lake Apartments in Lake St. Louis near Highway 40. It caused extensive damage. The carport is gone.
Ananta Poolla was one of several residents awakened by the explosion-like sounds. His Ford Escape was destroyed in the carport.
“By the time I came out, I saw it, it was completely in flames. For a second I thought maybe I can save it but then there was no point in it,” said Poolla.
Samantha Brown`s car was damaged.
“I woke up to a scream and I looked out my window and I saw the car on fire. So I grabbed my phone and started running out and called 911. And I got out there and there was a bunch of smoke,” said Brown.
Some like Lauren Conwell`s fiancé raced to move their cars before the flames spread.
“He ran out, ran across here, his car was right behind the moped, started it as quick as he could,” explained Conwell.
Firefighters received the call around 3:00am after a newspaper delivery woman noticed the fire.
“With all those vehicles involved along with the parking structure, the plywood involved in that, it spread pretty quick, it was overwhelming for the first crew no doubt,” said John Schneider, the Assistant Chief with the Wentzville Fire Protection District.
Fortunately, the apartment buildings weren’t damaged and no one was hurt.
However, some apartment residents were evacuated when the fire first started.
The state fire marshal was called in to help the authorities with the Wentzville Fire Protection District find a cause.
