It looks like a vacant house in the 3800 block of Gravois Road in House Springs was set on fire March 22, said Ron Tisius, fire marshal for the High Ridge Fire Protection District.
“All accidental causes have been ruled out,” he said. “The fire was set.”
At 4:36 p.m., High Ridge Fire got a call about the blaze, and when firefighters arrived on the scene at 4:42 p.m., the single-story wood frame house was “fully involved,” Tisius said.
“There was thick, black smoke and fire coming from the windows and through the roof,” Tisius said.
Access to the house was difficult because it appeared to be abandoned and brush and trees were grown up around the building, he said.
Firefighters began fighting the fire with a 2 1/2-inch hose, “dousing the flames,” Tisius said.
Firefighters had the fire under control by about 5:15 p.m., he said.
Witnesses in the neighborhood said youth were seen coming from the house about the time the fire appeared, Tisius said.
“Three juveniles – two boys and a girl – were seen in the area of the house,” he said.
Tisius said witnesses estimated their ages between 10 and 14 years of age.
No information was available about whether the youth were apprehended.
“We called in the state Fire Marshal’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Juvenile Office to investigate,” Tisius said.
The house was destroyed, he said.
“There was nothing left,” Tisius said.
He said the Sheriff’s Office was able to determine who owned the home, but he did not know if deputies were able to contact the owners.
The Cedar Hill, Eureka and Antonia fire protection districts assisted with the call.