NEWS

9 dogs killed in house fire near Ash Grove

Alissa Zhu
DZHU@NEWS-LEADER.COM

A house fire west of Ash Grove left nine dogs dead Thursday afternoon, according to a representative from the Ash Grove Fire Protection District.

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Tony Monnig, an Ash Grove firefighter, told the News-Leader the fire occurred at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday at a large "three-story, old-time farmhouse" on Farm Road 74.

One adult, four children and three dogs made it out of the blaze alive, according to Monnig.

Monnig said a young woman reported the fire and then was able to get her younger siblings out of the house to safety.

Monnig said there were no injuries to either residents or firefighters.

Monnig said the incident is still under investigation.

"We have found nothing that makes the fire suspicious in any way," Monnig said.

Monnig described the damage to the house as "pretty significant."

Monnig said many in the community have stepped up to help the family.

"We had the Red Cross, the family's church and food pantry all responded to the scene. We had a lot of people from the school show up, getting kids' clothing sizes together to come up with some help fast for them."

The fire departments of Ash Grove, Willard, Bois D'Arc and Walnut Grove all responded to the incident, Monnig said.