Read more: Local, Fire, House, Oxygen, Moberly
MOBERLY -- Two women died and one man was injured in an overnight house fire in Moberly.
The fire happened shortly before 2 a.m.Thursday at 115 South Fifth St.
Firefighters found the body of a 56-year-old woman and an 18-year-old woman in the remains of a burnt house in downtown Moberly.
A 26-year-old man escaped from the burning building. Neighbors told investigators they heard two explosions and a man screaming when the fire broke out during the overnight hours.
“If there were pops or what some people may have called an explosion, at least one of the residents was using oxygen," Moberly police commander Kevin Palmatory said. "There was some oxygen inside the residence. The pops or explosions were most likely those oxygen bottles.”
Firefighters evacuated neighbors for about three hours while they fought flames. Fire investigators said the fire started in the kitchen. They still don’t know how it started. They do know the building is a total loss.
Investigators estimate the fire caused $40,000 worth of damage. Authorities said the 26-year-old man, who survived with minor injuries is staying with friends and relatives. The Mid-Missouri American Red Cross also plans to help the lone survivor of this fire.
“In this particular case, we have been contacted," Red Cross Executive Director Mike Odneal said. "We will be providing additional assistance to the family members and people that have been affected.”
Authorities said they will release the names of the two victims after autopsies confirm their identities.
Autopsies are scheduled for Friday morning in Columbia.
