Officials: no victim after extra deputies called to home, barn fire
ABC 17 News has reporters at the scene of a large house fire Thursday about 15 minutes north of Columbia. Our crews were moved away from the home around 11:40 a.m. because Boone County firefighters believed the scene was too dangerous.
ABC 17 News later confirmed no one was in the barn, after getting a tip someone could be inside with a gun. Investigators later tracked the woman believed to be involved.
At least 15 units initially responded to 7630 Highway VV between Mauller and Akeman Bridge roads around 10 a.m. Thursday just outside Prathersville.
Crews closed the road between Small Lane and Mauller Road.
Additional law enforcement responded around 11:30 a.m. Everyone had cleared the property by 2:15 p.m.
While no authorities would confirm the fire being caused by a meth lab, Detective Tom O’Sullivan said the Boone County Sheriffs Department was familiar with the residence.
A neighbor, Charles Lockwood, had known the residents for over 20 years and said he never suspected a thing. “They say that 40% of the drug activity is in the city, guess where the other 60% is. So you never know, you just never know.”
The Fire Department is now investigating the cause and the origin of the fire.
