VIENNA — An explosion inside a home located in the 13000 block of Highway 28 that injured six firemen was “intentionally set,” said Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman on his Office of Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman Facebook page late Tuesday afternoon.

“After an extensive and ongoing investigation, it has been determined the fire was intentionally set,” Heitman began his update, posted at 3:19 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. “Our investigation continues and I will update you further when possible.”

Heitman did not return The Advocate’s inquiry for further information Tuesday afternoon.

The six Vienna volunteer firemen are currently home and recovering from second and third degree burns they received Friday morning when they house fire they responded to exploded as the firemen approached it. The injured men were Assistant Fire Chief Mark Buschmann, and firemen Chad James, Mark Honse, Mason Smith, Chase Lenning and T.J. Jeremy. They were treated at three hospitals – Phelps Health, Capital Region in Jefferson City, and University Hospital in Columbia. 

Heitman went to each hospital and Buschmann, even though released, stayed with the firemen until all of them but James was released. James was held overnight at University Hospital and came home on Saturday. On Monday, his wife said he was resting and recovering. The incident was scary for the families and shook up community members who realized the lives of the volunteer firemen could have been lost in the fiery blast. A Vienna Fireman Relief Fund was set up at The Maries County Bank to accept donations to give some financial support to the firemen while they are off work recovering from their injuries.

“I am still asking the public to show their support for these firemen who risked their lives and donate to the “Vienna Fireman Relief Fund” set up at the Maries County Bank,” Heitman said Aug. 20. “I am planning on turning those funds over to these six brave men tomorrow evening.” 

The incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 16. Sheriff Chris Heitman said a man driving by the home on  Highway 28, Danny Redel, called the fire into Maries County 911 Dispatch, reporting smoke coming from the attic of the house owned by Jack and Beverly Oaker at the 13000 block of Highway 28 West, Vienna. Redel reported a structure fire with smoke coming from the attic, smoke inside the building and the windows of the house were hot. 

The firefighters of the Vienna Fire Protection District responded. Fire District board member Larry Kampeter was one of the firemen who responded. He was working on getting hoses out between two fire trucks and did not see the explosion, but heard it and did see the firemen falling down and trying to get away from the structure. 

The explosion appeared to put out the fire, but there definitely was a fire because six firemen were injured with burns to exposed skin and cuts from flying debris. Several who saw the explosion said the firefighters were thrown through the air. Their skin that was exposed or was reached by the heat and the fire, at first appeared to be a very bad sunburn before it began to blister up. 

Kampeter said as they approached the building, the firemen were putting on and adjusting their protective gear. One fireman was getting his air mask’s digital air display where it should be and this very short delay may have saved lives. Kampeter said if the explosion had been 30 seconds sooner, there would have been four to five firemen in the building when it blew up. 

Although the cause of the fire has not yet been released by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Kampeter and others say the fire is consistent with what they’ve seen of propane fires in the past. Heitman said the blast was not consistent with methamphetamine fires that he’s seen as when a meth lab blows up it is more like a splash fire. This fire had a large force, such as propane, behind it. The explosion blew the house off of its foundation. A big question is the source of the ignition. The explosion appeared to put out the fire for the most part. 

Kampeter said propane drops because it is heavier than air, but they don’t know what sparked this fire. It got into the basement but the firemen did not see very much fire. Kampeter said they didn’t pump even 500 gallons of water at the scene. Usually at a structure fire they would pump thousands of gallons. 

The house was structurally damaged and the firemen and fire marshal had to wait for equipment to arrive from the Waynesville Fire Department to shore up the building so they could safely get into the basement. Heitman said without being shored up, it was unsafe to investigate. He said they want to be thorough with the investigation but they didn’t want anyone getting hurt while they are investigating.

They are waiting to see what the fire marshal says about it and a meeting is scheduled for Wednesday. Sheriff Heitman said with the fire marshal’s office, it could be months until they determine what the cause is. He added “thank God no was killed.” 

Kampeter said this is the first time this has happened to Vienna firefighters. He said the Fire Protection District pays for workers’ compensation insurance for its firemen.

Members of the Oaker family were at the scene on Friday, gathered around a few lawn chairs as they watched the activity of the firemen who remained on scene with the fire marshal. Jack Oaker said his family has owned the house for over 30 years and have raised children there. He was not there at the time of the fire and explosion as he was in Jefferson City. 

Since January, he has been doing renovations to the four-bedroom home and staying in a bedroom where he was keeping his things. Oaker said he was lucky to not be in the home when it exploded. The rest of the family was staying in Jefferson City because it was too hot to stay at the Highway 28 home. Other family members present at the scene after the explosion were Beverly Oaker, Brandy Travis, TJ Travis, Cody Sherman, and Mary and Mervin Hafner.

At this point all will have to wait to see what the fire marshal determines and hope that all of the firemen are able to recover from their injuries. The sheriff asked for donations to the relief fund, saying the fund is for medical expenses and personal expenses. “Volunteers may be out of work for some time. Who knows when they will be able to return to work? Donations are welcome and may be dropped off at the bank or the sheriff’s office. They will be passed to the fire chief for disbursement.”

At Maries R-1 School in Vienna, staff and students want to support the injured firemen and Wednesday is hat day. Students and staff pay a dollar and wear a hat to support the Vienna firefighters who were injured.

“I can assure the public we are using all of our resources to bring the person or persons responsible for this fire to justice,” Heitman said.