Gorin Home Destroyed by Fire, Four Left Homeless
By Echo Menges
GORIN, Mo. – Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 – A home in Gorin was destroyed by fire early Thursday morning, leaving four people and two pet dogs displaced just two weeks before Christmas. The family lost all of their possessions in the fire.
Volunteer firefighters from the Gorin and Rutledge volunteer fire departments and the Scotland County Ambulance District were dispatched to the fire at approximately 7:44 a.m., arriving to find the home fully engulfed in flames, according to Gorin VFD Fire Chief Kenneth Hoover.
When firefighters arrived, flames were visible from windows on the south and west sides of the house, which is located at 25789 Santa Fe St., neighboring the Tague Steel & Iron business.
Roughly 20 firefighters worked to extinguish the flames through the early morning hours, using six firetrucks and tanker trucks. Firefighters used more than 10,000 gallons of water to extinguish the fire. The structure was a total loss.
It is unknown exactly how the fire started. A wood-burning stove inside the residence could have been a contributing factor, according to Hoover.
Because the home was not insured by property owner Caroll Dean Peterson, nor the renters occupying the property, the Missouri fire marshal’s office will not be called to investigate the cause of the fire. The house has been owned by Peterson’s family for generations.
One of four occupants of the residence, Marlin Weir, 51, was home at the time of the fire and was not injured in the blaze.
The three other adult residents — Riva Weir, 58; Michael McClain, 37; and Jessica Rhodes, 35 — were not home at the time of the fire. Two family dogs were accounted for, alive and unharmed by the fire.
The Red Cross has been called to help with the displaced family’s immediate needs, and the Mayor of Gorin has set up a GoFundMe account to accept monetary donations for the displaced family.
Donations are also being accepted at Gorin City Hall, including clothing, toiletries and monetary donations. Items may be dropped off Mondays and Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m., and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. Gorin City Hall is located at 26977 W. Broadway St. in Gorin.
The family’s clothing sizes are listed below:
Women’s shirts and sweatpants: 3XL
Women’s shirts: XL; leggings: M–L
Men’s shirts and sweatpants: XL
Men’s shirts and sweatpants: 3XL–4XL
GoFundMe donation link: https://gofund. me/8cb0dd7ad
