Fire damages student apartments

Maryville firefighters responded to a structure fire Sunday evening on West Fourth Street. Fire crews responded in time to save the structure, which nevertheless sustained extensive damage from both smoke and flame. One resident, reportedly a Northwest Missouri State University student, was home in the upstairs apartment where the fire started. He was not seriously injured.

Smoke and flame from a fire that began in an upstairs apartment at 511 W. Fourth Street near the Northwest Missouri State University campus damaged a yellow, two-story house Sunday evening.

Maryville Public Safety firefighters, MPS police officers, and university police responded to the alarm just before 6:30 p.m.

MPS fire division Capt. Phil Rickabaugh said he was uncertain as to the cause of the blaze, but that the incident may have involved careless smoking.

He said the fire is believed to have ignited in the vicinity of a couple of upholstered chairs.

One man, reportedly a student at the university, was in the upstairs apartment where the fire started. Two other students, who lived downstairs, were not at home but were summoned to the residence while firefighters were still on the scene.

The names of the three residents were not immediately available.

The upstairs resident was examined for possible smoke inhalation but declined treatment. He was subsequently questioned by a city police officer.

Rickabaugh said there was no indication that the fire was set intentionally, but MPS Officer Ian Myers said circumstances surrounding the blaze remained under investigation.

The structure’s second floor appeared to have been damaged by both smoke and flame. One of the residents said damage on the ground floor was limited to smoke only.

Firefighters at the scene told the residents they would have to find other accommodations because the house was too badly damaged to live in.