Boat House and Boats Destroyed by Fire at Lake

A boat house owned by a Tuscola family was destroyed by fire early Saturday morning.

Shumway firefighters were called at 1:32am to 9236 E. Best Court on the north side of Lake Sara. Preliminary investigation indicates that embers from a smoldering fire at a neighboring property were carried by the wind onto the boat house owned by Wally and Becky Wax of Tuscola. The boat house and two boats stored inside were destroyed.

The frame and dock is all that's left of the Wax's boat house at Lake Sara

Firefighters were hampered by the water tower being out of service for painting. Shumway crews went to Effingham to get water to fight the fire. Due to the lack of water in the tower, a full still was instituted when the call came. Fire crews from Watson, Tri-County and Sigel assisted at the scene and crews from Stewardson and Altamont staffed the Shumway station in case of another call.

The remnants of one of the boats destroyed in the fire

No one was at home at the time of the fire. Effingham County Sheriff's Department and Effingham Water Authority assisted at the scene. Firefighters were on scene until 3:30am.

Firefighters remind those that burn to be sure fires are completely extinguished before leaving them unattended.