Fire Breaks Out Late Friday Morning in Mascoutah at S. Second Street and W. South Street

By Editor | February 13, 2026 |

A brush fire that broke out late Friday morning spread to multiple structures at the corner of S. Second St. and W. South St. due to blustery winds, heavily damaging a historic barn and a neighboring home. Fire departments from Mascoutah and surrounding communities responded. No injuries were reported.

The initial call was dispatched at 10:50 a.m. Fire crews arrived to find a grass fire that had reached a shed at 113 S. 2nd Street, owned by longtime Mascoutah residents Carrie and Ray Kunkel. Mascoutah Fire Chief Rob Stookey said firefighters began extinguishing the shed fire while also working to stop the brush fire behind the property. As they did so, flames spread to a neighboring home at 212 W. South Street.

Chief Stookey said crews upgraded the incident to a second alarm. Mutual aid arrived from departments in Lebanon, New Baden, Fayetteville and Freeburg. Firefighters attempted an interior attack on the second structure but faced heavy fire in the attic. Crews eventually transitioned to a defensive operation before reentering to finish suppression and overhaul. All units cleared the scene at 2:58 p.m.

Wind conditions are believed to have carried flames from the shed at 113 S. 2nd Street to the neighboring home at 212, contributing to the rapid spread.

Carrie Kunkel said a passerby first noticed smoke and alerted 911 before notifying the family in person.

“She came around the block and by then the smoke had turned into flames,” Kunkel said. “We ran outside and tried to put it out with hoses. We really thought it was a small fire at first.”

Kunkel said the barn that burned was a historic Mascoutah structure and one of the few remaining original barns in the community. The family had restored it over their 25 years living in Mascoutah.

“The barn that burned is one of the few remaining original Mascoutah barns,” she said. “We intend to try to restore it. We are waiting to hear from the insurance company.”

The Kunkel’s also lost a sentimental vehicle, a 1969 Dodge Charger that had been in the family for four decades.

“We have several cars, but that one was really sentimental to us,” Kunkel said. “That was the hardest part.”

Kunkel expressed gratitude for the support the family has received since the fire.

“We have had so many people reach out to us,” she said. “Friends, family, more people than I realized we knew in town. We thank God we were not hurt and that our house did not catch fire. We feel terrible for the neighbor behind us whose house caught fire.”

The neighboring home, owned by Zoë Quinn, sustained extensive damage.

Quinn, who purchased the home in 2020, said she was still assessing the situation.

“The fire started at the neighbor’s property and spread over to mine,” Quinn said. “From my eyes, the building is looking like a total loss, but that has not been confirmed.”

Quinn said it is still too early to make decisions about next steps.

“All of our most immediate needs are covered,” she said. “Everything else remains pending as far as the next couple of months and whatever the process looks like from here.”

Both property owners said they are waiting for insurance assessments before determining long-term plans. Neither family is currently seeking public fundraising assistance.