April 23, 2008 (Group 1)- At 10 a.m. in the morning, Engine 2 and Car 1 were called to the scene of a two alarm structure fire that destroyed a home on Robert’s Cove Road in Alton. A warning from a 13-year-old, who noticed smoke funneling out of a window on the second floor while standing in the backyard, enabled the two people to escape the house, with the family dog in tow, minutes before flames started shooting up from the roof. At about 11 a.m. Rescue 1 was called in for the cascade. The house, however, became a complete loss when the flames reached a propane tank affixed to the left side of the house, causing an explosion that set two vehicles parked in the driveway on fire, as well. After investigating the scene with the state Fire Marshal once the blaze had been brought under control, Fire Chief Alan Johnson explained that the fire was caused by an undetermined origin. For the time being, the family has moved in with her son, who lives across the street from what remains of her former home.