Discarded cigarette cause of house fire

The fire department was called at 2:48 a.m. Thursday and told the home was on fire. The occupants of the home escaped without injury, according to a report that listed Angie Cousineau as the owner and occupant of the home.

The Mountain Home Fire Department sent eight trucks and 18 firefighters to battle the fire.

When firefighters arrived, the entire back deck was gone, the entire back side of the house was fully involved and the attic was on fire.

Two firefighters were sent inside to make an interior attack on the blaze.

"But I pulled them out because the roof looked like it was about to cave in and it was just too dangerous," Williams said.

Firefighters spent approximately three hours extinguishing the blaze, according to a report.

"Fighting a fire from the exterior is always slower," Williams said.

The American Red Cross arrived and helped the occupants of the home get a hotel room for the night.

Williams said the home was not insured. Those wishing to help the owner of the home should contact the American Red Cross at 425-0764.

"Because of the high danger for fire right now, people need to be extremely cautious," Williams said. "Cigarettes, ash piles, anything that could cause a spark, you need to be real careful with."

Man charged in Ozark County fire

One man has been arrested for reckless burning when a trash fire got out of control and destroyed three homes in the Dugginsville, Mo., area Wednesday afternoon, according to the Ozark County (Mo.) Times. The man's name has not been released, the Times reported.

The Dugginsville fire was just one of at least five out-of-control fires that firefighters in Ozark County were battling Wednesday, according to the Times. More than 1,000 acres have burned, officials say. Some of the fires were still burning Thursday morning, the Times reported.

Ozark County fire chief Norman Jarret said Thursday that the fires in southern areas of the county had been contained.

People burning trash during high winds are being blamed for starting some of the fires.