Weekend fire causes severe damage

The exterior structure of the house located at 502 Short St. stands after the interior was severly damaged in a fire early Saturday afternoon. The residents of the home escapted the blaze without injury. No criminal charges are being filed as a result of the fire. (Michael Pommier/Tribune)

Fort Scott Firefighters worked for nearly two hours over the weekend before putting out the flames at a local residence.

Fort Scott Fire Chief Paul Ballou said about 10 people and three trucks responded to 502 Short St., on Saturday in attempts to get control of the blaze in the one-story house. He said they were there between noon and 12:30 p.m. and didn't leave the scene until after 2 p.m.

"We were there for close to a couple hours," Ballou said.

Ballou added there were residents in the home when firefighters arrived, but no one was injured in the incident.

According to both Ballou and Fort Scott Police Department Lt. Shaun West, the structure sustained significant damage to the interior. West said there has not been a dollar amount placed on the damage yet. He added that the structure is uninhabitable.

"The interior of the home was severely damaged," West said.

Ballou added, "It was pretty heavily damaged."

West conducted an investigation of the incident and says the case involved juveniles and that few details can be released regarding the cause of the fire. There was no criminal behavior involved, he added.

"There was no criminal behavior involved in the fire," West said. "It's been investigated, I've concluded the investigation and no criminal charges will be filed on the incident."