Vacant Stoddard Co. home destroyed in fire

A vacant residence in Stoddard County was destroyed by fire Wednesday morning.

Alvin Frank Jr., Delta Fire Protection District chief, said a single-story, wood-frame house was completely engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived at about 2:11 a.m. after receiving a call about the blaze.

"It was already a total loss by that time," Frank said. "Most of the roof had collapsed in by the time the first ones got there."

The house had been vacant for some time and no one was in the residence, he said. Outbuildings, which were 75 feet away, did not catch fire, he said.

The house was at the intersection of County Road 274 and County Road 302 in Stoddard County. Frank said Advance and Oran, Mo., fire departments assisted, and the fire is still under investigation.