Home destroyed after explosion ignites fire

Tammy Helm/Tribune photo Fire rages through a house on Valley Road south of Fulton Monday night. Fire officials say the fire began after there was an explosion in the back of the house. The residents, who were home at the time, escaped without injury.

On Tuesday, it was still unclear to firefighters what caused an explosion in a house that was destroyed by fire Monday night.

At about 10:10 p.m. Monday, firefighters responded to a call on Valley Road, south of Fulton, where it was reported there had been an explosion.

Two or three of the residents were home at the time, according to Lou Howard, Hiattville Fire Station chief and spokesperson for Bourbon County Rural Fire District No. 3. She said the family was sitting in the living room watching television when they heard an explosion in the back of the house.

"When they turned around and looked back, it was on fire," Howard said.

A daughter living there carried her cell phone as she exited the house and called 911.

Howard said the residents' names are not being released.

When firefighters from BCRFD No. 3 arrived, the walls on the back portion of the house had been knocked out and windows, including those in the front of the house, had been blown out. The back portion of the house was on fire.

"There was some type of explosion at the house that started the fire," Howard said. "I believe when they first got there, they were able to knock part of (the fire) down, but it reignited and came back."

BCRFD No. 3 responded with nine trucks and 15 personnel.

"We realized that we would need more water support, so we called for Scott Township Fire Department," Howard said.

Scott Township responded with four trucks and nine personnel. Another tanker truck was called from Redfield, and two more fire personnel were added to the scene, Howard said.

She said Fort Scott City Fire Department was not called.

The difficulty for firefighters was that the fire was in the attic.

"It was difficult to get to and it caused the fire to spread quickly in that attic," Howard said. "I think because of the explosion and it reignited, whatever caused that explosion was kind of against us, also. There had to be some type of fuel feeding the fire, we believe."

It was at least two hours before the blaze was under control.

"We had it under control. It was still on fire, but under control," Howard said.

The fire did not spread to any of the outbuildings.

Most of the fire trucks cleared the scene by 8 a.m. Tuesday, but one truck remained on the scene to monitor for hot spots until 1 p.m.

"It was not a suspicious fire," Howard said. "At this point we don't think there is anything suspicious about it. We did not call in a fire marshal. The insurance company I'm sure will take care of an investigation, but we did not call one in because we did not think it was suspicious."

There were no injuries to the residents or firefighters and Howard said she believes the residents were able to get their pets out.

Howard said the fire department contacted the American Red Cross, which will be in contact with the family. Anyone who would like to assist the family may call the Red Cross in Pittsburg at (620) 235-1436 or My Father's House in Fort Scott at 223-2212.