A Saturday (March 10) evening house fire in Hillsboro forced five adults from their home, authorities report.
Assistant chief Brian Gaudet of the Hillsboro Fire Protection District said the fire started at approximately 6:20 p.m. at the single-family residence at 569 Karen Drive. The rental property is owned by Telle Properties of Hillsboro, he said.
“The house was 50 percent involved with the fire in the basement when we arrived,” Gaudet said. “Crews made a good, quick knockdown of it, but there is extensive damage throughout. It either will be a total loss or an extensive rehab, as determined by insurance.”
Gaudet said one of the tenants received second-degree burns trying to fight the fire. The resident was treated on scene by the Valle Ambulance District and not transported for additional care, he said.
He said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Hillsboro received assistance from the Goldman and De Soto Rural fire districts. The De Soto City Fire Department covered Hillsboro’s fire station while Hillsboro’s personnel battled the blaze.
Firefighters fought the fire for about two hours, Gaudet said. The fire was contained from spreading to neighboring homes, he added.
The American Red Cross Jefferson County branch office responded to the incident and assisted the tenants with food, clothing and shelter.
--Kevin Carbery
