Vacant Kennett home destroyed; arson suspected

KENNETT, Mo. -- A fire destroyed a vacant structure at 603 W. Ninth St. on Wednesday, leaving officials suspecting arson.

The Kennett Fire Department received a call at 12:45 a.m. regarding the incident, and remained on the scene until 5:15 a.m.

"When the fire department arrived there was heavy smoke and flames erupting from the structure," Fire Marshal Scott Tutor said.

"At this point the fire is under investigation by the Kennett fire and police departments and the Missouri state fire marshal. The fire is suspicious in nature, because there was no electrical service to the structure."

The house is owned by Joel Hancock and Debbie Cossey and was destroyed by the fire.

The house adjacent to the fire, owned by Richard Jenkins and occupied by Tracey Causey and family, received damage to the vinyl siding due to the extreme heat from the fire.

"We were asleep and woke up to a responder knocking at the door and we were scared," Causey said following the incident.