Gas leaks complicated efforts to put out blaze that started in backyard

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

A home on Mill Street was destroyed and two others sustained damage following a fire that was more difficult than normal to extinguish due to damages natural gas lines.

According to a report from the Cassville Fire Protection District (CFD), the three-alarm fire began at a home at 1005 Mill Street in Cassville at about 3:26 p.m. on Oct. 7.

According to the report, CFD was paged to an outside fire involving a tree and power lines. While en route, Dispatch and Cassville Police Department personnel on scene advised that the fire was beginning to involve the structure at 1005 Mill Street and had also extended to the structure at 1003 Mill Street.

Engine 1 arrived on scene at about 3:47 p.m. and found the structure at 1005 Mill Street heavily involved in fire, with fire extension to the structure at 1003 Mill Street. Personnel established a water supply and initiated fire attack. Initial suppression efforts focused on stopping the fire’s extension at 1003 Mill Street and preventing further damage. An Exeter Fire District vehicle concentrated on fire suppression and exposure protection at the structure at 1007 Mill Street. Additional CFD units worked to suppress the outside fire and structure fire at 1005 Mill Street to the extent possible.

Extensive debris piles were present behind the structures and along the west side of the involved structure, creating additional challenges for suppression and overhaul operations. Additional personnel arriving on the third alarm assisted with operations and rotated with crews assigned to each structure.

During suppression operations, the natural gas meter serving the structure at 1003 Mill Street failed, resulting in an uncontrolled release of natural gas and complicating firefighting efforts. Butterfield Fire personnel were able to control the release. 

During operations at 1007 Mill Street, another gas meter failed. Spire Gas personnel were unable to control the second release. Spire Gas requested an emergency crew to excavate the gas lines in the alley behind the structures and cap the lines to eliminate the hazard. Once the lines were capped and the area was determined safe for continued operations, crews completed fire suppression at 1005 Mill Street and conducted extensive overhaul of the debris piles behind the structure and along the west side.

Following suppression operations, Cassville Chief Privett interviewed the occupant of 1005 Mill Street. The occupant stated that she had started a fire in the backyard to cook hamburgers. She reported going inside the residence and, after some time had passed, being alerted by a neighbor who yelled that her yard was on fire. She stated that she went outside, observed the fire and attempted to extinguish it. Barry County E9-1-1 received numerous calls reporting the incident.

The report lists the heat source being too close to combustible as a factor contributing to the ignition, and the cause of the ignition was unintentional. The blaze resulted in major flame, smoke and water damage to the home at 1005 Mill Street, resulting in total property loss and occupant displacement.

Due to the extent of the fire, CFD Chief Derek Acheson requested the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office to respond and investigate. Mutual aid crews were released and returned to service as operations allowed. CFD units also began returning to service, while Acheson remained on scene awaiting the Fire Marshal’s arrival.

The American Red Cross was contacted to assist the displaced occupants, and two personnel responded to provide assistance. Barry Electric was also on scene to address electrical hazards and help ensure all three structures were safe.

The Missouri State Fire Marshal’s investigator arrived and completed the scene examination and investigation.

Following completion of the investigation and confirmation that no further CFD assistance was required, all remaining CFD units and personnel cleared the scene and returned to service.

At least three people are listed in the report as involved in the incident, including residents of the home, James Manners and Carla Manners (Costlow), and property owner Gale Vanzandt. No one as injured, but multiple animals, including some snakes and two dogs, were lost in the blaze. Some other reptiles were saved.

Cassville had five units respond, including: a privately owned vehicle with two crew, a ladder truck with two crew, an engine with two crew, an engine with one crew and a brush truck with one crew. Cassville cleared the scene at 7:26 p.m.

Mutual aid was provided by the Eagle Rock-Golden-Mano Fire Protection District (one engine and three crew), Exeter Fire Protection District (rescue unit and three crew), Purdy Fire Protection District (brush truck, two engines and seven crew), Central Crossing Fire Protection District (one vehicle, a rescue truck and five crew), City of Monett Fire Department (chief vehicle, ladder truck and four crew) and Butterfield Fire Protection District (rescue truck and six crew).