JOHNSON COUNTY, Mo. —

Johnson County, Missouri, Fire Protection District firefighters discovered the body of an 89-year-old man after extinguishing the flames of a large fire in a rural area north of Fayetteville Friday night.

Firefighters received calls about the fire on NW 201 Road — off of NE County Road H — around 10:30 p.m. They arrived on the scene to find the fire had engulfed several buildings on a property, vehicles, and surrounding vegetation. Advertisement

After the flames had subsided enough to allow firefighters to search the area, they found the remains of Walter McGirl, a resident of the property.

Firefighters say the damage caused by the flames was so severe that it is difficult to tell if the fire alarms were working at any point before or during the fire.

Investigat

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