HIGHLAND, Ark. — A Thursday morning fire caused significant damage to the home of former Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose, though no injuries were reported.
Emergency crews were dispatched at 7:15 a.m. to the 2600 block of Highway 62, where the fire was located in the roof and attic areas, according to Sharp County Sheriff Shane Russell. Firefighters from Hardy, Highland, and Ash Flat worked to contain the blaze, along with the Sharp County Sheriff’s Office and Highland Police Department. The scene was cleared by 9:48 a.m.
While the exterior of the home was largely intact, extensive fire, smoke, and water damage left the interior heavily compromised. The roof and ceilings caved in, and much of the rafters were destroyed. Rose, who was inside the residence when the fire started, said he believed lightning might have struck the structure, and he attempted unsuccessfully to put out the fire on his own.
“It burnt a hole in top of the house,” Rose said. “Most of the roof and the rafters are damaged.”
Two firefighters were treated for heat-related issues at the scene and released. Sheriff Russell said no one else was believed to be inside the home at the time.
Highland Police Chief Jeff Hamilton stated that the state fire marshal and Arkansas State Police have been brought in to investigate the cause of the fire. "We’re looking into several possibilities,” he said, adding that the decision to include state authorities was made partly due to the home’s connection to a prominent local figure.
Highland Mayor Brent Crawford, who has known Rose and his family for years, echoed the importance of involving state investigators to ensure transparency in the inquiry. “Due to the circumstances surrounding this particular fire, we have decided to contact the state fire marshal’s office,” Crawford said. “It’s about as good as an opinion as you can get in the state of Arkansas.”
Rose's father was later seen at the property salvaging perishable items from the damaged home as local officials awaited the fire marshal’s arrival. The full extent of the damage and the exact cause of the blaze remain under investigation.