Firefighters battle back-to-back blazes in Butler County, investigation underway

The Missouri State Fire Marshal is investigating the origin and cause of one of two structure fires battled Saturday by Poplar Bluff city and Butler County firefighters.

The fire marshal was called to 2025 Alice St., where Poplar Bluff firefighters responded at 5:32 p.m. Saturday. The property is owned by Marvin Adams.

According to firefighter Eric Mierisch’s report, upon arrival, they found heavy fire and smoke coming from one corner of the structure.

While en route, firefighters were notified someone had gone back into the structure. When they arrived, they made contact with the people outside and witnesses advised everyone was out of the structure. Battalion Chief Kevin Edgar requested a call-back crew to standby by at Station 1.

They found fire in the bedroom to the right of the front door. Another crew arrived to assist with the search and fire attack. The primary search was complete with no one found inside. Crew members used a ladder to gain access to the attic to check for fire extensions.

Once the fire was under control, crews began overhaul operations. Municipal Utilities and Spire Gas were contacted to shut off utilities and gas. After the fire marshal was finished, all units cleared the scene.

Eight city personnel in three apparatus were at the scene.

Earlier, at 5:55 a.m. Saturday, the Butler County fire crews responded to a structure fire in the 8001 block of Woodland Meadow Drive, the residence of Scott Hancock.

The nine-county firefighters spent two and a half hours at the scene. They used three fire trucks and 6,000 gallons of water to fight the flames.

According to the county report, the fire started on the back porch, went up the wall and into the attic causing smoke, water and fire damage throughout the home.

Information on the cause of the fires was not immediately available.