Rural fire under investigation
An unoccupied rural home belonging to Mitch Moffett of Peabody was completely destroyed by fire early Thursday morning. The farmstead is on Quail Creek Road south of 20th Street.
Moffett, who also owns a residence in Peabody, does not live on the rural property. A small shed he uses as a shop also was destroyed. An Airstream trailer Moffett used when working on the property was slightly damaged by heat.
Peabody fire and ambulance departments were called at 4:10 a.m. by Moffett's father, Bob Moffett, who lives close by. The house was completely engulfed in flames by the time the fire and ambulance crews arrived.
A request for assistance was called in to Harvey County and the fire department from Whitewater responded. Also responding were Roland Schmidt and Jeff Soyez of the Marion County Sheriff's Department.
Peabody Fire Chief Ronnie Harms said that he was suspicious of the circumstances and contacted Rod Oldridge of the state fire marshal's office.
"In a case like this, it's just better to let the state do the investigation," said Harms. "It may or may not prove to be a suspicious fire, but we have turned everything over to them."
Harms was unable to voice his reasons for calling the fire marshal's office. "As long as it's being investigated, I really can't comment," he said. Currently there are no estimates on the value.
