Domestic dispute results in Shell Knob fire
September 22, 2021
Ezra DeVore
Around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 14, a Barry County deputy responded to a domestic dispute in the Stallion Bluff area near Shell Knob. However, “sometime before that deputy arrived,” began Central Crossing Fire Chief Rusty Rickard, “the 9-1-1 dispatcher got information from the caller that somebody in the house had set it on fire. The caller at that time was trapped in a third-story bedroom.”
Then, Central Crossing Firefighters were dispatched as well.
“Thankfully, we had a firefighter who lived in the area,” Rickard continued. “He and several of our units responded. He was actually able to get the caller on the phone, and she was able to explain to him where she was in the home; he was able to get on the back porch, which put him on the second story. They used a ladder, had her kick a screen out, and successfully rescued her from that third-story window. As that was taking place, the Barry County Sheriff arrived and successfully rescued (a person) from the living room area of the second floor.
“The female who had been trapped on the third floor had no injuries or smoke inhalation issues - she required little to no medical treatment.”
The man found in the living room, unfortunately, suffered serious burns and was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Springfield. “The law enforcement officers’ actions were just as heroic as ours,” continued Rickard. “Stone County, Barry County - fire and law - (we’re all) neighbors.”
Ezra DeVore
Around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 14, a Barry County deputy responded to a domestic dispute in the Stallion Bluff area near Shell Knob. However, “sometime before that deputy arrived,” began Central Crossing Fire Chief Rusty Rickard, “the 9-1-1 dispatcher got information from the caller that somebody in the house had set it on fire. The caller at that time was trapped in a third-story bedroom.”
Then, Central Crossing Firefighters were dispatched as well.
“Thankfully, we had a firefighter who lived in the area,” Rickard continued. “He and several of our units responded. He was actually able to get the caller on the phone, and she was able to explain to him where she was in the home; he was able to get on the back porch, which put him on the second story. They used a ladder, had her kick a screen out, and successfully rescued her from that third-story window. As that was taking place, the Barry County Sheriff arrived and successfully rescued (a person) from the living room area of the second floor.
“The female who had been trapped on the third floor had no injuries or smoke inhalation issues - she required little to no medical treatment.”
The man found in the living room, unfortunately, suffered serious burns and was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Springfield. “The law enforcement officers’ actions were just as heroic as ours,” continued Rickard. “Stone County, Barry County - fire and law - (we’re all) neighbors.”
