Firefighters battle blaze near Marble Hill

The Marble Hill Fire Department responded to a fire at a single-story farmhouse at 11 a.m. Monday. The seasonal residence was at the end of Route OO, about seven miles from Marble Hill, Mo.

Firefighters believe the blaze began in the field surrounding the house and spread, said Marble Hill fire chief Jim Bollinger.

Two tankers and two brush trucks responded to the fire, assisted by extra personnel from Zalma, Mo.

"The building is probably totaled," Bollinger said.

The front and back porches of the farmhouse, which had been used for deer hunting, were completely burnt off.

Firefighters did manage to salvage some furniture from inside the house.

The Marble Hill Fire Department is still investigating, but believe the "hot, fast-moving" blaze began as a brush fire, Bollinger said.