Blaze destroys home of Fruitland firefighter

FRUITLAND, Mo. -- Fire Friday destroyed the home of Fruitland assistant fire chief "Shane" Johnston.

Firefighters from Fruitland and East County fire districts battled in vain to save the double-wide mobile home along County Road 601.

"This is the second time in 17 years," Johnston said of the fire at his residence.

No one was injured.

The home had been freshly painted and had new carpet installed along with other improvements since Johnston was selling it.

"Thank God nobody was home," he said. "We were all at work."

Called home from his job at Nordenia, Johnston was unable to help fellow firefighters.

"If I go in there, you'll have to carry me out," he said at the scene.

Concerned about Johnston's blood pressure, firefighters led him away to paramedics.

Late Friday, Butch Ammann, a state fire marshal, said the cause of the fire likely will remain a mystery. "There was just too much damage for me to put my finger on it," he said.

A passer-by spotted the fire about 2 p.m. and reported it. Fierce wind fanned the fire, causing the house to burn quickly.

Although the burning home was easy to see from Interstate 55, getting to it on the winding county roads wasn't simple. By the time firefighters arrived, it was too late.

Travel constraints in getting to a fire are always frustrating, Amann said, but they especially sting when the home belongs to a peer.

The Johnstons had moved out a few weeks ago but were still in the process of moving belongings, Ammann said.

Johnston said the fire wasn't as frightening as the one that claimed his home at Fruitland 17 years ago. Then, he said, his mother-in-law was awakened by the fire from a nap but was not injured.

abuchanan@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160