Fire destroys two Oran homes

ORAN -- A fire in Oran destroyed two houses and melted the vinyl siding of another early Monday morning.

According to Battalion Chief James Watkins of the Oran Fire Protection District, the original fire started at 4:41 a.m. at the home of Dwight Dobbs and his sister, Betty Darnell, located on 115 Elm St. Neither Dobbs nor Darnell were home when the fire began.

The fire then extended to two residences at 113 and 111 Elm St. Watkins said the home at 113 Elm, which was also vacant, was owned by a family member of Dobbs and Darnell. Both houses at 115 and 113 Elm were destroyed.

Belinda Webb, owner of the house at 111 Elm, was home when the fire began and was notified by a phone call from a neighbor who spotted the blaze. The same neighbor also called 911 after discovering the fire. Siding on Webb's home was melted from the fire.

The Oran Fire Protection District received aid in fighting the fire from the New Hamburg, Benton and Chaffee Fire Protection District, Blodgett Fire Department and the North Scott County Ambulance District. Twenty-five people were on the scene with eight pieces of apparatus used, Watkins said.

Watkins said the scene was cleared at 9:57 a.m. and no injuries were reported. Watkins also said cause is unknown and is under investigation by the Missouri State Fire Marshall.