A juvenile was taken into custody for allegedly starting a fire that destroyed his family’s mobile home in the 3300 block of Lemehl Drive southeast of De Soto on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, authorities reported.
Two adults and two juveniles were home when the fire started and got out of the home without injuries, said John Scullin, deputy chief of the De Soto Rural Fire Protection District.
The fire district got at 8:42 p.m. that a bedroom in the home was on fire, and several firetrucks arrived on the scene within 10 minutes, Scullin said.
He said the front three-fourths of the mobile home was a total loss.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office handled the investigation into the cause of the fire, Scullin said.
“The fire is believed to be arson, and a juvenile is the suspect,” Sheriff’s Office spokesman Grant Bissell said. “The juvenile was taken into custody and transferred to the custody of the juvenile office.”
The Hillsboro, Hematite and Jefferson R-7 fire protection districts and the De Soto Fire Department helped with the call. The Joachim-Plattin and Valle ambulance districts also responded to the scene, Scullin said.
He said firefighters remained on the scene for four hours.