A house fire burned through the roof and claimed a Mapaville home late this afternoon (April 13).
A passerby called 911 at 4:50 p.m. and reported a flue fire at the home on Valley View Drive, said Chief Darryl Reed of the Mapaville Fire Protection District.
“No one was at home at the time of the fire,” he said.
Reed arrived on the scene at 4:57 p.m.
“When we arrived, there was heavy smoke coming from the eaves all around the house,” Reed said. “The side vent was already burned out.”
Firefighters began pulling hoses off the trucks and pouring water in through that vent, he said.
“About that time the fire came through the roof,” he said. “We then called for more help and water.”
In addition to firefighters from Mapaville, firefighters from Hematite, Hillsboro, Dunklin and Goldman responded to the fire.
“They knocked it down pretty quick,” Reed said. “Jefferson County firefighters are some of the best.”
The cause of the fire remains undetermined. No one was injured in the incident.
“We called in the investigation team. We don’t expect arson, but no one was home” (at the time of the fire), Reed said.
The home is uninhabitable now, he said.
A woman who owned the home said she had somewhere to go and told firefighters her husband was out of town, Reed said.
About 7 p.m. that evening firefighters were preparing to leave the scene.
“They will check the house again and then with a thermal camera (to make sure the fire is out).”