A local family has been displaced following a house fire on Christmas eve.

Donnie Privett, Butterfield Fire Protection District chief, said on Dec. 24 at about 5:28 a.m., personnel were dispatched to 8467 Farm Road 2112 for a structure fire.

Butterfield crews arrived on scene to find a single-story, approximately 1,200-squarefoot, wood-framed structure engulfed in heavy smoke and with fire shooting though the roof.

Privett said Mercy EMS treated the two occupants of the home on the scene for smoke inhalation, and they were transported to another residence by family members who were on scene. The American Red Cross was called to offer the occupants assistance.

“The fire was believed to have started in the area of the wood stove,” Privett said. “The Missouri State Fire Marshal was also called and advised of the fire. There was nothing located at the scene that lead us to believe the fire was suspicious in nature.”

Alyssa Spencer, who owns the home with her husband, Joshua Spencer, said they were asleep in the home with their three children (ages 4, 6 and 12), her mother and her aunt at the time the fire started.

“We got the kids out as fast as possible,” she said. “We couldn’t see to get to our shoes, so we got out and were barefoot on the snow and ice from a couple days before. The boys (4-yearold and 12-year-old) and I got frostbite from standing in the snow and had to see a specialist because there aren’t many frostbite cases in Missouri.”

Spencer said her daughter was coughing “black stuff” but was ruled to be OK. Spencer’s mother and aunt were sleeping closest to the fire’s origin, and she said they suffered some burns and smoke inhalation.

“After we got out was when the flames really took off,” she said. “We are thankful for that.”

Spencer said the family’s possessions, including Christmas gifts under their tree, were all lost in the blaze. The family has been working with insurance for temporary housing, migrating between staying with family members for the time being.

“We are still determining where to go, but we have been staying with family members, many siblings who have flown in from Arizona, Texas and Tennessee. We’ve been bouncing around staying at hotels with them and just everywhere.”

Spencer said the family bought the home five years ago, and her husband did all he could to save it.

“We have a stack of wood outside with a shovel nearby, and he was trying to shovel show into the house to put the fire out, but it just got to big,” she said.

Spencer said the ordeal has been difficult to process, and she is still trying to come fully to terms with what happened.

Those wishing to contact Spencer and offer help may do so by contacting the Cassville Democrat at 417-847-2610 for further information.

The Purdy Fire Protection District was dispatched to the scene as auto-aid, and the Cassville Volunteer Fire Protection District was called for mutual aid with an engine and tanker.

Purdy responded with two engines, one rescue and five personnel. Cassville Fire responded with one engine, one tanker and four personnel. Butterfield Fire responded with two engines, one tanker, one rescue and 12 personnel.

Butterfield crews were on scene approximately five hours due to the condition of the fire and extreme cold. Privett said a vehicle on the scene showed the temperature at 0 degrees, moving up to 1 degree by the time crews left.

Butterfield was called back to the residence multiple times from Saturday through Sunday night for rekindles.

“I want to extend a special thanks to Purdy Fire and Cassville Fire for their help,” Privett said. “We couldn’t have done it without them.”