Emergency crews respond to structure fire

BUCHANAN COUNTY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Firefighters responded to a structure fire in the area of 2995 S.E. Mason Road in St. Joseph around 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

Crews with the South Central Buchanan County Fire Protection District were working to put out the fire when a News-Press NOW reporter arrived on the scene just before 5 p.m.

According to Chief Dennis Johnson with the SCBC Fire Department, over half of the house was engulfed in flames when fire units arrived and no one was inside the residence at the time.

Johnson also told a News-Press NOW reporter that it is too early to determine the cause of the fire.