Two fires that occurred July 15 at 12 River Road in the Hillsboro area are under investigation.
A river house that went up in flames in the early morning hours was on fire again six hours later. Fire officials said both fires are suspicious.
Cedar Hill Fire Protection District received the first call at 2:09 a.m. When firefighters arrived at 2:22 a.m., “Fire was through the roof” and about 25 percent of the building was on fire, Fire Chief Terry Soer said.
Firefighters had the fire under control in 15 minutes and quickly put out the blaze.
There was, however, “extensive damage” to the house, which consisted of a cabin with some add-ons, Soer said.
Firefighters called in the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to investigate because there were no utilities to the building and the fire was suspicious, Assistant Chief Greg Shuster said.
Sheriff’s Capt. Gary Higginbotham said the investigation revealed that the fire had been set, but there was no information on suspects.
The house was one of several in that area that were condemned by the county after recent flooding, he said.
Higginbotham said a neighbor called 911 after smelling smoke, investigating and seeing flames.
Fire crews left the scene to answer another call at 5:50 a.m. Investigators were on the scene until 7 a.m., Shuster said..
Then, Cedar Hill firefighters were called back to the scene at 8:07 a.m. to find the house “blazing” again, he said.
“Both these fires are very suspicious,” Shuster said.
Several agencies assisted with the fires, including the Hillsboro, De Soto Rural and High Ridge fire protection districts, the Big River Ambulance District, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Shuster said.