House fire third call at same address

KENNTT, Mo. -- Kennett firefighters were called to a house fire at 1113 Peach St. early Monday morning -- the third such report since early October.

Firefighters arrived at 3:37 a.m. to find heavy smoke coming from all openings of the house and flames shooting from the roof and through the rear of the building. Kennett Fire Department Capt. Paul Swain said 12 firefighters remained on the scene for approximately two hours, battling the blaze.

Swain added the department also had been called to the same address Friday night. During the first call, firefighters received a report of a person trapped in the building. When they arrived at 9:16 p.m., they found occupants inside and outside the house, with light smoke coming from the building.

The owners, Michael and Stephanie Rushton, told firefighters they had been out and arrived home to find the smoke coming from their home. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the bathroom, which sustained heavy damage. The flames were extinguished, but they had heated the toilet line, which broke and flooded the room. There were no injuries.

After the first incident, to which eight firefighters responded, the home owners' insurance provider put them up in a local motel, and Swain said they were not at the home when firefighters arrived on the second call.

Monday's call was the third fire incident reported at the Peach Street address. An initial call was filed Oct. 4. The state fire marshal was called to the scene, and the incidents remain under joint investigation.

Pertinent address:

1113 Peach St., Kennett, Mo.