KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An elderly man and woman died in a late Sunday night house fire in Garden City, Missouri.

The victims’ names have not been released. Autopsies are planned for later this week, according to the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Cass County Sheriff’s Department deputies and Garden City Fire Protection District crews found the house on South O’Bannon Road engulfed in flames around 10:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Department.

Firefighters from the East Lynne Fire Department, Creighton Fire Department, Harrisonville Fire Department, and Central Cass Fire Protection District also helped extinguish the fire.

Cass County Sheriff’s Office

The cause of the fire is undetermined. According to the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office, investigators do not believe anything suspicious or criminal caused the fire.

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Tornadoes that pounded Missouri in mid-March are gone, but the destruction they left behind is not forgotten in communities that are picking up the pieces.

The night of twisters left a trail of wreckage in 27 Missouri counties, especially the southern half of the state. Some of the most damaged communities are in Rolla, Perryville, Poplar Bluff, and West Plains.

Not only did the tornadoes destroy homes, businesses, and memories, but they also killed at least 12 people in Missouri.

Poplar Bluff tornado damage (Photo credit: Jeff Shawan)

Poplar Bluff City Manager Robert Knodell told Missourinet nearly 1,000 Butler County homes have tornado damage.

“Really ripped through the center of our community, and it damaged a number of homes, destroyed a trailer park, heavy damage to a large church, citywide kindergarten center, our community college, major damage to a significant grocery store,” said Knodell.

More than 4,000 homes were without power immediately after the storm.

City utilities from Springfield, Monet, Nixa, Hannibal, and in Arkansas helped to get the power back on within 48 hours. City workers in Dexter and Sikeston helped Poplar Bluff to help remove debris and reopen streets.

Katy Linnenbrink, with the State Emergency Management Agency, told Missourinet that federal and state agencies are expected to finish preliminary damage assessments this week.

Poplar Bluff tornado damage (Photo credit: Jeff Shawan)

In Butler County, Knodell expects damage estimates to exceed $10 million.

Knodell said his community needs volunteers for several more weeks.

“This tornado cut a swath through neighborhoods and subdivisions and areas that have a lot of old growth vegetation, very, very large trees. And so, volunteers are helping and assisting with that, helping provide meals and supplies to individuals that need those,” he said.

Some tornado victims are staying with relatives either locally or in other communities. Knodell said local hotels are full with people who are not able to stay in their homes.

The Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce is taking donations and Samaritan’s Purse is leading volunteer efforts.

Knodell said classes resume this week in Poplar Bluff.

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