A house fire in a historical property at 817 Court Street started early this morning and, although no injuries were reported, the house has received extensive damage.
Neighbors called the Fulton Fire Department at 5:28 a.m. and at 5:32 a.m. first responders were on the scene, Fulton Fire Chief Dean Buffington said. When the first fire engines arrived heavy fire was coming out of the North East corner windows on the second floor as well as the attic.
Within minutes the FFD requested mutual aid from the North Callaway, Central Callaway and South Callaway Fire Protection. At the height of the fire about 40 firemen were on the scene fighting the flames, but due to large trees located on the property the use of a truck ladder was not possible. They had the fire under control within an hour of being on scene, Buffington said.
Investigators from the FFD and the Missouri Stat Fire Marshal's Office began investigating the cause of the fire at 9 a.m. and determined that a ceiling fan on the third floor of the home was most likely the cause, Assistant Chief Kevin Coffelt said. They believe the fan locked and the motor overheated, which started the fire.
The roof of the property fell through in some parts of the home and the first floor of the house received extensive water and smoke damage, Buffington said. The FFD returned to the home around 4 p.m. as the fire rekindled in a previous hot spot. No other hot spots were found after the second fire was put out, but the fire has a possibility of rekindling.
"When you have that extensive fire damage, there's a chance it can rekindle," Coffelt said.
The owners of the property were on the scene, but did not wish to speak to members of the press. They also told the American Red Cross and the FFD that they do not need further assistance at this time.