Firefighters battle early morning fire at Sturgeon care facility

STURGEON, Mo. (KMIZ)

Nobody was hurt after a fire at a care facility in the 300 block of East Stone Street in Sturgeon early Monday morning.

Just before 5 a.m., Boone County Joint Communication issued a notification that E. Stone St. is closed due to a fire incident. As of 8:15 a.m., the road is still closed.

Boone County Fire Protection District Chief Doug Westoff told ABC 17 News at the scene that crews responded to an automatic alarm at 4:37 a.m. at the Sturgeon Residential Care Facility. A staff member found a fire on the porch outside the nursing home and attempted to put the fire out before it spread to the attic. Residents in the facility were able to evacuate; there were no reported injuries.

Fire crews on scene got the flames under control just after 7 a.m. The building had several void spaces, making it a challenge to extinguish the fire, according to Westhoff.

"It was in such tight spaces in different rooflines and stuff like that, and the building's been added on to five or six times," said Westhoff.

Westhoff says there were about 30 firefighters on scene.

When ABC 17 News crews arrived on scene, they saw at least seven Boone County Fire trucks along with a ladder truck from the Columbia Fire Department. Firefighters were seen battling a fire at the Sturgeon Residential Care facility.

Smoke was seen billowing from the roof and the windows as firefighters used foam to get the flames under control.

This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.