Fire destroys family's home on Highway 34

Four fire departments responded at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday to a house fire on Highway 34 east of Marble Hill, Missouri. The house, owned and occupied by Joseph Ridings and his family, still was standing after the fire but is considered a total loss, Marble Hill fire chief Jim Bollinger said.

Marble Hill, Leopold, Millersville and North Bollinger County fire departments responded. The fire is believed to have been started by a faulty chimney flue. Ridings, his wife and two children, ages 6 and 10, escaped unharmed. The family has insuance. Bollinger said the wood-frame house had been standing since 1920.