Boone County home destroyed, three pets dead after Saturday night fire

Crews battled a house fire in the 9200 block of South Stanley Poe Road, about 20 minutes south of Columbia Saturday night.

Assistant Fire Chief Gale Blomenkamp with the Boone County Fire Protection District said the home was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived on scene.

The fire started around 10:30 p.m. and at least 16 units from BCFD and Southern Boone Fire Protection District responded to the scene.Captain Martina Pounds with the Boone County Fire Protection District said crews spent about an hour and a half on scene.

Pounds said two people made it out of the home safe, the homeowner and a friend. Three dogs died in the fire.

Pounds said the two people woke up to flames coming through their front door. She said the fire may have started in a BBQ grill on the front porch. The people inside told officials the homeowner’s roommate using the charcoal grill about an hour and half before the fire started. Pounds says the timeline matches for the grill starting the fire.

Pounds wanted to emphasize the importance of making sure charcoal is out completely before going to sleep. With Mid-Missouri warming up, she said people grilling on decks should be aware of the dangers. Pounds said unlike with a gas grill you can turn off, charcoal can get and stay very hot.

An official source and cause of the fire is still being investigated.

Fire officials say the home had smoke alarms but they were not working at the time of the fire.

Officials estimate the damage around $30,000.The home is considered a total loss.