Careless smoking is blamed for a fire that destroyed a house in south St Joseph early Thursday morning,

St Joseph Fire Department crews were dispatched at about 4:30am Thursday to the house at 6501 King Hill Ave.   Fire gutted the house.  Two occupants suffered from smoke inhalation but were not transported to the hospital.

Fire Inspector Rob Blizzard says the cause of the fire will be listed as accidental, blamed on careless smoking.  The blaze caused $35,000 damage, which was the estimated value of the house.

Mr Blizzard says the two occupants refused help from the American Red Cross.  The house was not insured.