The Missouri State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating a second fire at 743 N. Ninth St. in four days.
The early Monday fire call was at 5:02 a.m. and required two crews to return to work.
Poplar Bluff firefighters first responded to the address at 4:16 p.m. Friday to put out a trash or waste fire in the front yard of the duplex, which included large furniture. They used 200 gallons of water and there was no structural damage to the building.
When firefighters arrived Monday, they saw heavy flames coming from the rear of the building.
The Poplar Bluff police were at the scene and the occupants were out of the house. Also at the scene were Municipal Utilities and emergency medical services.
““It appeared the fire started under the rear of the structure and spread into the basement, main floor and attic area of the structure,” Poplar Bluff Fire Chief Mike Moffitt said. “We had to call in two additional crews to help extinguish the fire. The state fire investigator is actively investigating the fire. All utility service was disconnected to the structure.”
There were two occupants in the structure at the time of the fire, Moffitt said.
“We are happy they escaped with no injuries. Red Cross was contacted to help the displaced occupants,” he said. “I have been in contact with the property owners, and they are actively trying to get the property secured and cleaned up.”
The structure is a single-story wood frame with a stucco exterior. According to the fire report, the fire was burning under the rear addition and into the basement. The second fire required 2,000 gallons of water to extinguish the fire.
The rental property is owned by Justin Dortch.