Screams from an expectant mother rousted an extended family from sleep early Monday morning so that everyone could escape a burning house on the southwest corner of 16th and Oak streets.

The alarm didn’t go off but a son’s girlfriend was up, smelled the smoke and hollered for everyone to wake up, said Kerry Keith, as he stood out side the home he’s been renting since April.

“We grabbed the kids and got everybody out,” Mr. Keith said.

Mr. Keith, three other adults and six kids, including the youngest a five-year-old boy got out without any injuries.

Several fire companies were returning from a leaking natural gas call when dispatch sounded the alarm at 1:31 a.m. Monday, said Paris Jenkins, the battalion chief.

Flames shot skyward from the rear of the house as the first units arrived on scene.

“We used everybody on duty to successfully knock it down,” Mr. Jenkins said.

Firefighters ran a lead to the rear of the home to fight the flames while two other groups of fire fighters carried main lines into the first floor and up to the second floor, Mr. Jenkins said.

St. Joseph Fire Department investigator Rob Blizzard said the fire was electrical and that the occupants were experiencing problems with a circuit breaker earlier in the evening. He estimated that the fire did $25,000 in damage to the house and $10,000 to it's contents.

By about 2 a.m. Monday firefighters had the blaze under control but were still dealing with hot spots in the wall.

One firefighter sustained minor injuries but didn’t have to transported to a hospital, Mr. Jenkins said.

Volunteer workers from the Midland Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross responded to the scene to provide lodging and other emergency services family members might need.

The cause and amount of damages won’t be known until later Monday.