Centralia City Firemen say a vacant home at 416 South Pleasant was destroyed by fire Thursday morning. Firemen report the entire home was engulfed in flames shooting 20 feet into the air upon their arrival and could be seen across town.
Firemen say utilities were still connected. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The fire was so hot it set a car on fire in a neighbors driveway along with the corner of the neighbors house. The vehicle was destroyed, but the fire on the corner of the house was quickly extinguished by firemen.
Firemen say the roof caved in on the single story structure and the walls were knocked in to help put out the fire. There were no injuries.
The Centralia Fire Protection District provided mutual aid on the scene and Sandoval and Odin Firemen stood by at the downtown Centralia Fire Station in the event of another fire.
Court records indicate the Marion County tax trustee had just completed purchase of the home on Wednesday during a court hearing due to taxes not being paid for three years. County Treasurer Gary Purcell says the property will be scheduled for sale to interested parties in the fall. He notes this property will now be a vacant lot instead of a home.
Centralia officials say the home owner prior to the tax sale on Wednesday, Dustin Donaldson, had received multiple ordinance violations as the home reportedly attracted squatters, had tall grass, inoperable vehicles, and trash complaints.
