Dog dies in house fire


The occupant of this home escaped an early morning blaze on Stehle Road in western Ozark County Sunday, but a dog perished in the fire, officials said. The cause of the blaze is yet to be determined. Four fire departments responded to the blaze, along with Ozark County Ambulance and Ozark County Sheriff’s Department.

The occupant of a home that burned early Sunday morning on Stehle Road in western Ozark County made it out of the structure safely, but a dog perished in the early morning blaze, officials said.

Theodosia Volunteer Fire Department Captain Craig Mierkowski told the Ozark County Times that when his department arrived on the scene of the house fire, the home had large flames and smoke coming from the south end of the structure.

“The occupant of the home made it out safely, but unfortunately a dog died in the fire,” Mierkowski said.

Three other fire departments, Gainesville, Pontiac and Taney County Central, were called out to help with the fire.

“The other departments were called in mainly due to the amount of water that was used on the fire,” Mierkowski said. He said the blaze spread to a nearby treeline, but firefighters were able to knock that fire down before it got too out of hand.

“There was one firefighter that had some heat exhaustion and was treated at the scene,” Mierkowski said.

The captain said he was unsure what started the fire.

“The occupant said he heard a pop, which suggests it may have been electrical,” Mierkowski said. He said the investigation into the cause of the fire was turned over to the Missouri Fire Marshal’s office.

“It’s kind of a routine thing,” Mierkowski said. “There’s not anything really suspicious about it.”

The occupant of the home, who was not named by officials, was connected with the American Red Cross, who provided shelter for him.

There were no other injuries in association with the blaze. Officials said the home was a total loss.

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423