Fire Damages House on South 3rd Street(UPDATE)

Fire damaged a house at 801 S. 3rd Street in Effingham Tuesday afternoon.

The fire was in the home of Bill and Laura Glover. 

Effingham Fire Chief Joe Holomy said Bill Glover arrived home from work and saw heavy smoke coming from the open garage door. Glover shut the door and phoned 911. Holomy said the "seed of the fire" was in a family area in the basement of the multi-story structure. Firefighters hit the fire and got it extinguished, but Holomy said there was heavy smoke and heat damage on the main floor, but no fire. He said there was smoke throughout the house.

Neither Bill nor Laura Glover were injured, but their pet cat and dog both perished.

A representative of the State Fire Marshal's Office worked with firefighters as to the cause of the fire. Holomy said the investigators determined the cause was electrical with the point of origin in the lower level of the home near the fireplace.

Teutopolis firefighters assisted at the scene, while Altamont firefighters staffed Station 1 at Fayette and Maple and Watson firefighters staffed Station 3 so Effingham firefighters could work on scene.