HERCULANEUM, Mo. (First Alert 4) - A Herculaneum family is working to rebuild after a fire destroyed their home on Hammond Drive, and says they are now dealing with people looting what is left behind.

The fire broke out around 7 a.m. Wednesday, November 12, in the 100 block of Hammond Drive, according to Herculaneum Fire Chief Kevin Baker. The initial call came in as a garage fire from the homeowner. By the time firefighters arrived, flames had spread from the garage into the rest of the house and the neighbor’s.

Homeowner Danielle Blankenship said she woke up, smelled smoke and eventually opened the door to the garage, where she saw black smoke. She grabbed her two young children and ran outside as neighbors called 911.

Three of the family’s cats died in the fire, Blankenship said. Two

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