Fire deparments from Boscobel and Blue River were called to the Ruth Ann Markin home in Excelsior on Sept. 23 at approximately 1:15 p.m. When they arrived they found the house engulfed in flames. With no hydrants in Excelsior, firemen were forced to drive to Blue River to fill their tanker trucks with water. The house, which Markin has lived in for nearly 40 years, was completely destroyed. "I was lying on the davenport when I heard two pops," she said. "I got up and the porch was on fire, so I got our and went across the street to call the fire department."