Residents escape Cahokia Heights apartment fire, but two dogs died

Several metro-east fire departments responded to a fire in the 100 block of Judith Lane in Cahokia Heights early Wednesday morning after they received a call reporting the fire at 1:44 a.m., the assistant chief of the Camp Jackson Fire Department said.

Nine people who were in four apartments in the building were able to get out safely, according to Assistant Chief Sharon Davis.

The two dogs that were inside the building died in the fire.

When firefighters arrived on scene, there was heavy fire in the attic and roof.

Davis did not know a cause for the fire and said the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the fire.

The Camp Jackson Fire Department was assisted by firefighters from Cahokia Heights, Columbia, Prairie Du Pont and Sauget.