A house fire along Hwy. 21 south of Hillsboro closed the highway for about an hour on Monday (Feb. 8).
The Hillsboro Fire Protection District received a call around 2 p.m. about the fire at the home, 11518 Hwy. 21.
Three or four people lived at the house, and two were there when the fire broke out, but they got out OK, Gaudet said.
When firefighters arrived at the single-story house, heavy smoke was showing, Assistant Chief Brian Gaudet said.
“We were able to make contact with the occupants of the house, and they were out of the building. No one was trapped,” he said.
Firefighters attacked the fire on the interior of the building, Gaudet said.
“We worked there for some time and needed more manpower, so we struck a second alarm,” he said.
The De Soto Fire Department and the De Soto Rural, Hematite, Goldman, Cedar Hill and Mapaville fire protection districts responded, as did the Valle Ambulance District.
Hillsboro Police and the Missouri State Highway Patrol managed traffic and Hwy. 21 was first reopened to one lane before opening to normal traffic.
“The interior of the house was heavily damaged by fire,” Gaudet said.
Fire officials believe the fire was accidental, but the cause is being investigated, Gaudet said.
Firefighters had extinguished the fire and the district was back in service by about 4:30 p.m. Monday, he said.
The American Red Cross assisted the residents with food, clothing and shelter.