A fire destroyed a mobile home in the 8000 block of Shelle Estates Court off Hwy. BB in rural Hillsboro Monday afternoon (Jan. 18), says Greg Shuster, assistant chief for the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District.
“Between the heat and the smoke, it was completely destroyed,” Shuster said. “The fire appeared to be in one room. (Firefighters) got it knocked down real quick, but it’s a total loss.”
The fire was reported at 3:34 p.m., he said.
A family of four who live in the home – two adults and two children – were not inside when the fire broke out, but one of the adult residents returned home, discovered the fire and reported it, Shuster said.
“He saw smoke coming out of a flue,” Shuster said. “He opened the door and was met with smoke and called 911.”
Shuster said the family has pets, but none of them were in the mobile home at the time of the fire.
The cause of the fire is unknown, and the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating it, Shuster said today (Jan. 20).
He said firefighters who battled the fire left the scene at 6:07 p.m., while investigators remained until 8:22 p.m.
The American Red Cross helped the family, providing them with food, clothing and shelter the day of the fire, the organization reported.
Shuster said he did not know where the family planned to stay long-term.
The Hillsboro and Goldman fire districts and the Big River Ambulance District helped with the call.