Fire ravages Boone County home Friday night

Boone County firefighters battled a house fire in north of Columbia. The fire is in the 4000 block of Chapel Drive, off of Route E.

Upon arrival, firefighters reported seeing flames coming from the home. Assistant Boone County Fire Protection District Chief Josh Creamer said a neighbor called 9-1-1 around 10 p.m. about the fire, which heavily damaged the attic and first floor of the home. Creamer said he did not suspect anyone was inside the house at the time.

Creamer believed many of the items in the basement could be salvaged, but described the first floor and attic as almost totally lost.

Firefighters attacked the blaze for more than hour, bringing in several tanker trucks to refill an improvised pool with water. Around 11 Friday night, crews began entering the house with oxygen tanks strapped to their backs and masks over their faces.

“We have no idea of the cause yet,” Creamer said. “Once the attack has been completed, we’ll begin the investigation portion of the incident.”