A large, two-story, weekend home at 7366 Brown’s Ford Road in Dittmer was heavily damaged by fire on Sunday afternoon (Dec. 3). At 2:14 p.m., one of the two adults who was staying at the home called the De Soto Rural Fire Protection District about the fire, Assistant Chief Tom Fitzgerald said.
When firefighters arrived at the scene about 10 minutes later, they found the fire well underway, he said.
“The whole back of the house was on fire extending to the second floor,” Fitzgerald said.
Firefighters attacked the fire from the exterior. Then a secondary crew went inside the house to extinguish the fire, he said.
Fitzgerald said windy conditions made fighting the destructive fire difficult.
“The wind did not help them any,” he said. “It was blowing right at the back of the building, pushing the fire through the house.”
The fire at the 2,400-square-foot structure went to two alarms, Fitzgerald said.
Tanker trucks filled with water were brought to the scene because hydrants were not available in the rural area. Then, the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District drew water from the Big River Access at Brown’s Ford to refill the tankers as needed, Fitzgerald said.
Firefighters brought the fire under control in about 20 minutes, and firefighters left the scene at about 4:45 p.m., he said.
“The cause of the fire was ruled undetermined but not suspicious,” Fitzgerald said.
Fire officials suspect ashes or heat from a barbecue pit may have sparked the fire, he said.
“They had been barbecuing under the rear deck and getting ready to leave after the weekend,” Fitzgerald said.
The Cedar Hill, Hillsboro and St. Clair fire protection districts and the De Soto City Fire Department assisted De Soto Rural with the call. The Pacific, Jefferson R-7 and Hematite fire protection districts moved up to cover De Soto Rural’s district.