State fire investigators were called to determine the cause of a fire that heavily damaged a vacant house on Unity Road in Benton. The house was ablaze when firefighters arrived, and about 20 firefighters from multiple departments worked to extinguish the fire. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion but is okay. The house had been vacant for at least six years and was surrounded by other structures and equipment. Investigators from the Office of State Fire Marshal arrived at the scene to determine the cause of the fire. Traffic was at a standstill for at least an hour on the road as vehicles tried to navigate around the scene. Motorists expressed their frustration at the delay, with some trying to get to work or care for loved ones. The fire marshal, Shawn Esler, who recently started his position, said they would investigate once the fire was completely extinguished. The property, thick with trees and vegetation, suffered heavy damage due to the fire, which spread rapidly throughout the building. The fire department worked diligently to contain the flames and prevent further damage to nearby structures. Residents in the area expressed concern over the fire and hoped for a swift investigation to determine the cause. The fire marshal assured the public that they would work to uncover the reasons behind the fire once the scene was safe to investigate.
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