The Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office and De Soto Police are investigating a fire that damaged a Get Healthy De Soto Farmers’ Market building early this morning, Nov. 7, Fire Chief Tony Ochoa said.
He said firefighters were dispatched to 520 N. Main at 5:51 a.m. and arrived at 5:57 a.m. to find flames on the roof of a one-story building.
Ochoa said apparently a squatter had been living on top of the building for some time, and it looked like something caused a mattress on top of the building to catch fire.
“I’m not sure how he got up there,” Ochoa said, adding the squatter apparently fled when the fire started.
Ochoa said the fire did not go through the roof, so the fire damage was minimal. However, there was smoke and water damage to the inside of the building.
The market is currently closed for the season.
Anyone with information about the fire should call the De Soto Police Department at 636-586-8891.
The De Soto Rural, Hematite, Hillsboro and Jefferson R-7 fire protection districts and the Festus Fire Department helped with the call.
Ochoa said the fire was a good example of why the city needs a ladder truck. Since the Fire Department’s ladder truck was damaged in an accident within the last year and taken out of service, the Festus Fire Department has the closest ladder truck
He said the city council has authorized him to get prices for a ladder truck.