No one hurt in Scott County blaze

No one was hurt but a rural Scott County farm family lost their home Wednesday afternoon in a fire that appeared to start as a result of a lightning strike.

David Landewee said he was out working on his farm on County Road 204 near Scott City when he got a call from a neighbor telling him his house was on fire.

"I think lightning hit it in the other garage over there, from what my neighbor told me," he said. "Blew a hole in the roof."

Thick gray smoke billowed from the house as flames licked from what little was left of the roof. The porch columns were twisted and blackened, and the railing between them had melted.

Firefighters from Scott City, Delta, Chaffee and the New Hamburg/Benton/Commerce fire departments sprayed a mixture of water and flame-retardant foam onto the burning house as neighbors gathered at the edge of a field to watch them

work.

Hal Rice with the Chaffee Fire Department speaks with David Landewee as firefighters from Delta, Scott City, Chaffee and New Hamburg/Benton/Commerce battle the fire engulfing Landewee's house off County Road 204 in Scott County Wednesday afternoon, July 23, 2014. (Laura Simon)

Clouds of foam drifted off the top of a portable, open-topped tank and rolled along like tumbleweeds into a nearby field, where they got caught among the cornstalks.

The house appeared to be a total loss.

Landewee said no one was home at the time the fire broke out.

"At least no one was hurt," said Landewee's mother, Janet Landewee, as she watched the blaze flare up at the west end of the house. "They say 'structure,' but it means a lot to them. ... It wasn't fancy, but it was gorgeous."

The house, which was about three years old, was insured, David Landewee said.

"There's just no guarantees in life," Janet Landewee said.

She said her son and his family would stay with her for the time being.

Asked whether the family needed anything, Janet Landewee requested prayer.

"Just prayers so they all stay healthy and they can get through the rebuild," she said.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

1544 County Road 204, Scott City, MO