By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• A family in Wellston, Missouri, found the body of a 71-year-old man inside his burned home two days after firefighters had battled a fire and told relatives no one was inside.
• The home fire occurred Feb. 24 on Ogden Avenue; fire crews withdrew early due to a roof collapse.
• Relatives said they were told a search had been completed and cadaver dogs would be used, but no canine search occurred, officials confirmed.
• The man, identified by family as Wayne Vann, was discovered under debris in his bedroom on Feb. 26.
• Fire officials said conditions limited rescue efforts; the cause of the fire is under investigation.
WELLSTON, MO — Relatives of a 71-year-old man found his body inside a burned home Feb. 26, two days after firefighters responded to a blaze and told them the residence had been searched and was empty, family members and officials said.
The fire occurred around Feb. 24 on Ogden Avenue, and Mid County Fire Protection District crews pulled back from interior operations about six minutes after arrival because the roof collapsed and fire conditions were too severe, Fire Chief Randell Sanders said.
Family members said they were repeatedly told that no one was inside and that a cadaver dog would be used to assist in the search on Feb. 25, but that canine support was not available.
On Feb. 26, relatives entered the burned structure and located the man, identified by family as Wayne Vann, beneath debris in his bedroom within minutes, they said.
Chief Sanders said crews made every effort to search for victims during and after the fire but were limited by extreme conditions and that a cadaver dog was not available when requested; he expressed condolences to the family.
Local authorities have not released an official cause for the fire and said investigations are ongoing.