Fire Damages Effingham Home; Second Fire Call Generated by the First

(THE FRONT WINDOW OF THE JOSEPH AND SHERRI CONDER RESIDENCE IS MISSING TO HELP VENT THE HOUSE AFTER A FIRE STARTED IN THE KITCHEN)

Fire damaged a home in Park Hills Subdivision Tuesday afternoon, and that fire call led to a second call.

The house fire was at 1:16pm at the Joseph and Sherri Conder residence at 507 Park Hills Drive. A neighbor spotted smoke and phoned firefighters. The Conders were not home at the time.

Effingham Fire Captain Bob Hoffman said the fire originated in the kitchen, on or in the stove. The fire spread to the walls and cabinets and got into the insulation with smoke coming from the eaves on the west side of the house. Fire crews had to remove some of the dry wall to gain access to the insulation. The stove and a microwave were also damaged.

Hoffman said when firefighters reached the scene, it was unclear whether anyone was inside the home. Firefighters searched the home to make sure no one was inside.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Hoffman estimated the fire did more than $50,000 damage.

As to the second fire call, firefighters believe that opening a hydrant to fight the fire caused a drop in water pressure. That triggered a fire alarm at the First National Bank of Dieterich corporate offices just north of Park Hills, but there was no fire. Effingham firefighters had asked Teutopolis firefighters for assistance when they weren't sure of the scope of the house fire. When the call to the corporate offices, Teutopolis firefighters checked out that scene. Dieterich firefighters were called to assist, as well, but they were cancelled en route.