Fire burns down home in southern Boone County

BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Editor's note: This article has been corrected to accurately reflect responding agencies.

A fire in the 5200 block of South Cowan Road caused an estimated $750,000 in damages to a home Saturday morning.

Boone County firefighters were dispatched to the fire at around 8:51 a.m. and arrived at the scene at 9 a.m. Boone Fire Protection District Chief Scott Olsen said eight apparatuses and 24 personnel responded to the scene.

Olsen said nobody was injured during the fire, though water was freezing on the firemen.

Gale Blomenkamp with the Boone County Fire Protection District said the homeowners were in bed and the family was alerted by their dog about the fire.

"Homeowners that were home at the time of the fire were actually still in bed when the fire started and their family dog alerted them to the fire by barking," said Blomenkamp. "So they had no smoke detector activation because the fire was in the garage and the fire was above the ceiling. So without that pet, we could have had a major tragedy here this morning."

The neighbors next door were startled by a sudden pop outside their home. Tracy Arey, a neighbor, found the young couple in distress. Still in their pajamas and barefoot, looking for refuge.

"I saw some smoke and some fire. And the young couple, our neighbors were running out and basically I let them into our house and their house was pretty much engulfed by then," said Arey

Blomenkamp said fire investigators believe the fire started in the garage, and Olsen said strong winds caused a "blow torch effect," causing the fire to spread quickly.

"It started in the garage, and that's what it appeared to be. And as for the fire which we got here, heavy fire involvement from the fire had made it through the attic and through the roof," said Blomenkamp.

"That's when we called in the company party firemen in our system to provide some aerial support where we can actually get the water on the fire from above, it makes things a lot easier because it's just too dangerous for us to go inside at that point," said Blomenkamp.

"It was a, it was considered a wind-driven fire because of the wind speeds out of the south temperatures plays a factor in the sense that things just are more difficult," said Blomenkemp.

An ABC 17 News crew at the scene saw a fireman walking by with water frozen on his gear.

Boone Electric disconnected power to the home and fire investigators are working with the family.

According to the neighbor, the victims have been living in the area for quite a few years and have always been fantastic neighbors. They're genuinely sorry about what happened to them.

"…it seems like, you know, tragedies like this always happen when they're, you know, when it's cold and rainy and, you know, or real hot, " said Arey. "So it's a rough time for them..especially being a young couple, you know, it makes it even worse. And I'm sure a lot of memories are burnt in that house,"

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.