Vacant house burns down, fire marshal called

A three-alarm fire at a vacant house on Wednesday night is under investigation.

Eleven firefighters responded to 817 Franklin St. at 8:15 p.m. and remained on scene for about three and a half hours. While en route, firefighters were advised by a Poplar Bluff police officer the building was fully involved.

According to a report by Capt. Justin Maddock, crews deployed lines to protect a residence next door.

Battalion Chief Jeff Hale advised dispatch to contact an investigator from the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s office as well as call back a fire crew handle additional calls that might come into the department.

Maddock’s report stated once the majority of the fire had been contained, the aerial truck was set up to extinguish fire seen through the gable roof vent in the attic.

“Personnel was unable to enter the structure due to the safety concern with the integrity of the building from the fire,” Maddock’s report stated. “Crews were unable to extinguish remaining hot spots in the structure with hand lines and the aerial.”

Hale requested the street department respond with a backhoe to assist in accessing the building and extinguishing the hot spots. The backhoe breached the walls and the roof so fire personnel could extinguish the remaining fire.

Municipal Utilities also was contacted to handle a downed power line.

After the equipment had been secured, a final inspection was made to ensure the fire had been completely extinguished.

Other fire personnel at the scene were Tanner Tibbs, Jamie Watson, Cameron Rose, Dustin Graves, Kevin Edgar, Tyler Daggett. Austin Armes, Joshua Buhler and Kenneth Felts.