Fire in residential structure at 16th and Byers; one woman taken to hospital
At approximately 8:26 PM on December 1st, the Joplin 911 center received a report of a residential structure fire located near the intersection of 16th & Byers.
On arrival of Joplin Fire units, a two-story vacant structure located at 1602 Byers had smoke and flames visible from the second floor.
Firefighters immediately began a search for potential victims inside the structure. A 40-year-old female was found on the second floor and removed from the building through a second-floor window by firefighters.
The victim was subsequently transported to Mercy Hospital by METS ambulance for treatment of injuries. The fire was extinguished, and no other victims were located.
The Joplin Fire Marshal was contacted and could not rule out the fire originating from candles that were being used on the second floor. The fire was placed under control within 30 minutes.
Joplin Fire responded with 6 apparatus and 21 personnel and was assisted by the Joplin Police Department and METS ambulance.