Fire destroys historic Puxico hotel

PUXICO, Mo. — A historic hotel building in the downtown area of Puxico caught fire late Friday with two people on the upper floor who both suffered injuries.

Charles Morris, the owner of the Burris Hotel, was in the living quarters on the second floor when the fire started. He was taken by helicopter to the burn center at St. John's Hospital in Hot Springs, Ark. Another man in the building at the time, Larry Harris, was taken by the Stoddard County Ambulance Service to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Morris' condition was not known.

Firefighters from Puxico, Bloomfield, Dudley and Zalma responded to the call that came in at 5 p.m. to the Puxico Fire Department. The fire was centered in the upstairs living area and was shooting through the roof by the time firefighters arrived at the scene, Harris said. Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control, said Puxico Fire Chief Wayne Harris. Just after midnight, Lloyd Hall, owner of a local excavation company, was called in to demolish the outside walls, which posed an public safety problem said Harris.

William Lawrence, manager of the Indian Retreat Restaurant just down the street, said several people were in the restaurant when someone came in and told them to call 911. The group went out to look and became concerned about Morris. Several people then took action. A ladder was put up to the second story balcony and Ryan Hartman climbed the ladder to rescue Morris. According to Lawrence, Hartman had to tear away a screen and "kick out some boards" to gain entry. He managed to enter the apartment and get Morris on to the balcony and down to safety.

Adam Rathman also went into the upper apartment and rescued Morris' dog, according to Lawrence.

Larry Harris lived in another apartment on the second floor of the hotel. Lawrence said Harris managed to get out of his apartment and escape down the stairs at the back of the building.

Another building, a vacant former cafe, that was located within just feet of the old hotel was threatened by the blaze as firefighters battled to contain it. There was a fear that the building might collapse onto the neighboring building, said Dave Cooper, director of the Stoddard County Ambulance District (SCAD).

The Bloomfield Fire Department brought a ladder truck that was instrumental in fighting the blaze and the Dudley Fire Department used a "deck gun" that pumped large amounts of water to the top of the building.

The Burris Hotel was built in 1891, reportedly the oldest remaining building in Puxico. It was located on East Richardson, which is now Route PP. It was a beehive of activity in the small Stoddard County town around the turn of the century because it was located near the railroad station. The railroad was the main transportation in that era, and the hotel capitalized on travelers who stopped there.

The building had long since ceased as a hotel. The second story was used for apartments, which is where Morris lived. The first floor of the building had most recently been used for the resale of used items.

Harris said the cause and origin of the fire had not yet been determined. He said the fire investigator from Jackson was at the scene Friday night and again Saturday, but he had not received any official word on what may have started the fire.

Residents of Puxico flocked outside to view the burnt orange night sky as the fire lit up most of the downtown area. Firetrucks and emergency vehicles flooded the downtown area. Many spectators shared memories and reflected on the historic significance of the building and what it meant to the town as they watched the firemen attempt to contain and extinguish the flames.