Gasconade County Republican

BLAND — An early-morning mobile home fire Sunday claimed the life of a rural Bland man. Based on interviews with family members, the victim was identified by the Gasconade County Sheriff’s Department as Russell J. Groff, 53.

Due to the extensive damage to the mobile home, fire officials were unable to determine a cause. “It’s going to be undetermined. It’s a total loss,” said Bland Fire Protection District Chief Jeff Robinson.

Robinson said a passing motorist reported the fire had completely engulfed the structure when it was reported at 7:26 a.m.

Mark Davis, assistant chief for the Bland department, said the motorist first attempted to make contact with someone at the other residence on the property but there was no answer at the door. Davis noted the motorist reported being unable to make a cell phone call from the area.

“He beat on the house next door on the same property. He went to (neighbor) Vernon Stockton’s house and then went up the road to call 911,” said Davis.

When Stockton, a member of Bland Fire Protection District, arrived on the scene, he reported “it was on the ground,” said Davis. “It was already (burned) to the frame and had about burned itself out.”

Davis said a tanker from the Owensville Fire Department was the first unit on the scene, about 10 or 15 minutes after the 911 call, but there was nothing anyone could do. Robinson said they reported the structure was completely destroyed. The mobile home was described as an “older model” residence approximately 12-feet by 65-feet in size.

Gasconade County Sheriff’s Deputy Marty Rainey met with members of the Owensville Fire Department who were extinguishing the fire and was told the mobile home was fully engulfed upon their arrival, according to Sheriff Randy Esphorst.

“Once the fire was extinguished and prior to the Fire Marshal’s arrival, Deputy Rainey and fire department personnel began a search of the scene and approximately two feet from the front door of the mobile home they discovered the skeletal remains of a body,” said Esphorst. “Deputy Rainey was able to ascertain from family members that the remains were probably that of Russell J. Groff, a 53-year-old male, who resided in the mobile home. Groff’s vehicle was located at the scene and family members were able to confirm that Groff had returned home at approximately 3:30 a.m. Family members also confirmed that the mobile home contained a wood burning stove.”

Gasconade County Coroner Ben Grosse recovered the remains and transported them to Columbia for an autopsy conducted on Monday by Dr. Adelstein at Boone County Hospital. Esphorst said  “preliminary (autopsy) results indicated death due to asphyxiation from exposure to thermal burns.”

DNA samples were also taken, he noted, to assist in making a positive identification.

The Fire Marshal’s initial findings were that “the fire was of undetermined origin,” according to Esphorst’s report.