Flames destroy old, vacant home

Published Sunday, March 16, 2008

By Mandy Bourgeois

A fire late Thursday night on Farm Road 920 destroyed a vacant house.

The fire was reported around 10:30 p.m., with Boonsville/Balsora, Salk Creek and Poolville volunteer departments responding to the blaze.

"I live about three miles away and when I got there the house was fully involved," said Dennis Penney, with the Boonsville/Balsora VFD. "We made sure no one was in the house, then we made sure it wasn't going to spread.

"It took us about 30 minutes to get it knocked out and we were there until about 1:30."

Penney said that the firefighters made sure the fire was completely out before leaving, due to the high winds and low humidity expected Friday.

"We were concerned," Penney said. "We had to make sure it was completely out because of the fire hazard we were expecting (Friday). We couldn't afford not to put it out completely. I think we put about 10,000 gallons on it. All of that water was hauled in there because there were no hydrants."

About 35 firefighters and seven pieces of equipment were on the scene. The cause is under investigation.

"It had been recently occupied as a rent house, but to our understanding, it was vacant at the time," Penney said. "We think it was one of the older homes in Boonsville - probably over 100 yeas old."

The home belonged to the Massey family.