Festus Police and the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating an afternoon blaze on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, in Festus during which a dead body was found in the house.
The deceased is a 35-year-old man, reported Festus Police Capt. Lewis Pippin. He said authorities were not yet releasing the man’s name as of Monday, Dec. 1.
Pippin also said the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office had not yet determined if the man died in the fire or the cause of his death.
Festus Fire Chief Jeff Broombaugh said his department received a call about 1:10 p.m. about a fire at a house in the 500 block of South Adams Street.
“It’s a one-story house,” Broombaugh said. “When firefighters arrived, there was heavy smoke showing.”
He said firefighters had the blaze under control by 1:42 p.m. Investigators remained at the scene until about 6:55 p.m., he said.
No firefighters reported injuries during the incident, he said.
He said the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
The house “will need extensive repairs” before anyone may live there, Broombaugh said.
“There was heavy damage to two rooms, plus a lot of smoke damage throughout the house,” he said.
The Crystal City and Herculaneum fire departments and Hematite, Mapaville, Dunklin, Jefferson R-7 and Rock Community fire districts helped with the call and the Joachim-Plattin Ambulance District also responded.