A fire destroyed a vacant De Soto-area house that was being remodeled, said De Soto Rural Fire Chief Tom Fitzgerald.
He said firefighters were dispatched at about 11 p.m. Feb. 6 after a person called 911 to report a two-story house was on fire in the 3000 block of Thompson Road southeast of De Soto. An off-duty Hematite firefighter arrived before fire crews and reported the home was engulfed in flames.
“Due to the volume of fire, a second alarm was requested for additional water supply and manpower,” Fitzgerald said. “Upon arrival, crews deployed multiple handlines and initiated a defensive fire attack. After an extended amount of time, the incident was brought under control. The Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office was requested to the scene to assist with the investigation and cause of the fire.”
Fitzgerald said Saline Valley’s ladder truck was used to help with fire overhaul due to structure stability and access issues.
He said no one was at the residence at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported.
The De Soto, Festus and Crystal City fire departments and Hematite, Jefferson R-7, Big River, Hillsboro, Dunklin, Mapaville and Saline Valley fire protection districts assisted with the fire. Joachim-Plattin Ambulance District also responded. The Rock Community, St. Clair, Goldman and Potosi fire protection districts assisted with other calls.
De Soto Rural firefighters also extinguished a pavilion fire in the 4500 block of Cedar Gate Road southeast of De Soto at 12:36 a.m. Feb. 8, Fitzgerald said.
He said the pavilion, which was used as an outdoor cooking area, was heavily engulfed in fire and included cooking equipment and propane tanks.
Fitzgerald said no one was injured. He said the homeowner had used the smoker earlier in the day.
The De Soto Fire Department assisted with De Soto Rural’s other calls.