Firefighters douse 'suspicious' apartment fire

Poplar Bluff firefighters from three stations responded to a suspicious structure fire Tuesday, which is being investigated by the State Fire Marshal’s office.

Poplar Bluff Fire Chief Mike Moffitt said the first crew was dispatched at 8:58 a.m. Feb. 26 to 1936 Missouri Ave. They observed heavy smoke coming from the two-story apartment, and crews found squatters asleep inside.

Capt. Jonathan Miller began his assessment while a fire crew deployed an attack line, the report stated.

Moffitt said firefighters determined the fire was in an apartment on the second floor at the front of the building.

Miller and firefighters Tyler Daggett and Tyler Gutterman made entry.

“As they were extinguishing the fire other fire crews were checking the rest of the building for occupants and evacuating them,” Moffitt said. “The fire was contained to the one apartment.”

Once the fire was out and those in the building were evacuated, the fire crews checked for fire in the attic and walls.

All utilities were disconnected and the building inspector condemned the structure.

The building is owned by Stewart Fox of Utah and the property manager is Kathy Hart.

According to the property manager, the building was not supposed to be occupied; however, several people were found squatting in an adjacent apartment. They were questioned by Poplar Bluff police and the State Fire Marshal investigators.

Other crew members among those on the scene were Dustin Graves, Battalion Chief Jeffrey Hale, Lt. Justin Maddock, Captain Justin Moyers, Lt. Travis Taylor and Jamie Watson.

Also on the scene were Butler County EMS, Municipal Utilities, Poplar Bluff Inspections Department and the Poplar Bluff Police.

Firefighters used 700 gallons of water and spent approximately an hour and a half at the scene.