Fire Damages Effingham Home

Fire did significant damage to a home north of Community Park Monday night. No one was injured.

Effingham firefighters were called to the Darrell Gordon residence at 708 N. Pembroke at 8:40pm. Effingham Fire Chief Joe Holomy said a fire had been started in the fireplace earlier in the evening. Holomy said the flue pipe for the fireplace collapsed and that allowed gases and fire to escape. He said there was fire rolling on the roof when firefighters arrived. 

Gordon and a visitor were home at the time the fire was discovered, but both got out safely. The nature of the fire didn't trigger smoke detectors in the home.

Holomy said one fire crew entered the house through the front door while another crew went upstairs. He said there was visible fire in the attic, and in the soffitt, too.

While no one was injured, firefighters upstairs had to remove a portion of ceiling to get at the fire and that portion of ceiling came down on four firefighters.

Firefighters began clearing the scene after 10pm. 

Holomy estimated the dollar value of damage done at $50,000 to $60,000. He said Servpro was called to help remove water from the structure, which he termed uninhabitable for now.

Teutopolis and Watson firefighters made a change of quarters to assist in case of another fire in town. The Teutopolis crew responded to a car crash in Effingham while Effingham fire crews were on scene at the Gordon residence.