A fire early on July 21 significantly damaged a pool house behind a home in the 4600 block of Hwy. H just west of De Soto. A man living in the pool house escaped unharmed, De Soto Rural Fire Chief Tom Fitzgerald reported.
“It’s a two-story pool house,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s considerably damaged. It was well-involved when we arrived. It started in the garage area and went up into the attic.”
He said firefighters had the blaze contained in about 25 minutes and the main house was not damaged.
One firefighter sustained a minor injury during the call, Fitzgerald said.
“Our assistant chief (William Coxwell) got struck with a damaged fire hose,” Fitzgerald said. “He did not require treatment, but he is bruised.”
Fitzgerald said the fire appeared accidental and may have been caused by a riding law mower.
The building will need repairs before it can be occupied again, he said today (July 28).
Firefighters were on the scene for about two hours, Fitzgerald said.
The De Soto Fire Department and the Hillsboro, Cedar Hill, St. Clair, Hematite, Potosi and Big River fire protection districts and the Valle Ambulance District helped with the call.