PAGEDALE, Mo. – A Monday morning house fire in Pagedale devastated a family of eight, leaving heartbreak and unanswered questions in its wake.

The fire began just before midnight on Sunday on 70th Street while eight people were inside the residence. The Mid-County Fire Protection District arrived minutes later, finding the back of the home engulfed in flames.

“The first units on scene found fire in the back of the house. Coming from what turned out to be the kitchen area. The house was full of smoke; extreme black smoke,” Fire Chief Randell Sanders said.

Three people escaped before firefighters arrived, but reports of others trapped inside added urgency to the response.

"On initial reports [said] they had three people trapped in the house with three others that had escaped prior to our arrival,” Sanders said.

Firefighters found the body of a 45-year-old man on the second floor, above the fire’s origin. Authorities believe he died of smoke inhalation before firefighters could reach him. Three others were sent to the hospital.

A neighbor who has lived in the area since 1972 was stunned by what she saw.

“I was just shocked because I can’t imagine something like this would happen,” Edna Austrell said. “You know, like to say we’ve been here so long and never seen anything like that and so close. It was a surprise and a shock to see all the smoke."

The cause of this devastating fire remains under investigation as the Mid-County Fire Chief awaits answers from the St. Louis County Bomb and Arson Unit.

Authorities believe the residents were using alternative heat sources like a kitchen stove for heat. Police said the American Red Cross has stepped in to assist the family.