Three children, one adult rescued from residential fire on North College Avenue

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A fire department call to a house fire shut down part of a major street near the North Village Arts District.

Fire crews received reports of the fire in with people and animals possibly trapped inside.

Firefighters were sent a little before 10:30 a.m. to 408 College Ave., near the street's intersection with Paris Road. Several fire trucks were at the scene and firefighters could be seen gathered around a second-floor window.

The first fire crew arrived three minutes later and observed no exterior fire or smoke from the three-story apartment building.

Firefighters said a fire on the second floor was put out quickly. However, emergency dispatchers sent out a public alert that the northbound and center turn lane of College near Walnut Street was shut down.

During search and rescue operations, crews encountered one adult and three children in the third-floor apartment which had begun to fill with smoke from the fire below; fire crews evacuated the children and escorted the adult to the exterior of the building. They were not injured and refused additional emergency care.

Crews also rescued one feline and one gecko from the fire apartment. They were provided care until reunited with their owner.

A fire marshal said the fire originated in an animal heating pad in a bedroom and the cause is ruled as accidental. Damage is estimated at $2,000.

Check back for updates to this developing story.