Jones County firefighters fought the blazes at a single-family home near Ellisville for several hours Tuesday. The fire, which was reported close to 7 p.m., claimed the home at #6 Rogers Road, a van parked nearby and caused some heat-related damage to the house next door.

“It was a total loss,” said Dan McKenna, Jones County Volunteer Fire coordinator. “They reportedly did not have insurance, which is bad any time of year but particularly bad since we’re coming close to the holidays.”

McKenna said District 5 — which includes Johnson, Ovett and Union — as well as the City of Ellisville responded to the fire, with Glade arriving for support with a tanker.

“Ellisville arrived first and reported the single family wood frame structure was fully involved,” he said. “Our efforts were complicated due to downed power lines. The home was extremely close, probably within 20 feet to another structure which was threatened and received slight damage from the fire.”

McKenna said the van was destroyed because firefighters couldn’t reach the vehicle due to the power lines.

“The family all escaped without injury,” he said. “The occupants didn’t know what the cause of the fire was, but reported that it had started in a bedroom.”

Noting the recent spate of devastating house fires in recent weeks, McKenna warned area residents to inspect their space heaters and chimneys as the weather cools.

“With the weather getting cooler at night, people utilize space heaters and fire places,” he said. “That just adds to the number of responses we are going to make. Everyone needs to take the opportunity to check those and check their smoke detectors. Make sure they’re working, that chimneys don’t have a creosote build-up and appliances such as space heaters have good chords and a strong outlet.”

McKenna added that those operating space heaters should test the devices.

“They should have safety switches when they get tipped over,” he said. “Test it by getting it started and then tipping it over. It should shut off. If it doesn’t, it needs not to be used.”