Fire Damages House on Hawthorne Drive, Occupant Injured

(THE KITCHEN OF THE VERNON ESKEW RESIDENCE AT 304 W. HAWTHORNE DRIVE IN EFFINGHAM)

Effingham firefighters were on scene for more than two hours Thursday afternoon at a residential structure fire on the city's south side. The owner of the home was taken for treatment due to smoke from the fire.

Firefighters were called at 1:53pm to the Vernon Eskew residence at 304 W. Hawthorne Drive. The first arriving crew reported heavy smoke coming from the residence. 

Initial information received by fire crews en route to the scene was that all occupants were out of the residence, but on arrival, one crew discovered Eskew, the owner of the home, partially inside the front door with heavy smoke coming from behind him and were working to get Eskew out of the home. Acting Fire Lieutenant Tasha Hoffman and Firefighter Rich Baker made their way to Eskew and assisted him down a ramp to the driveway. They sat Eskew in a chair and then carried him to the end of the driveway. Eskew was taken to HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham for treatment.

As additional crews began to arrive, firefighters began attacking the fire from the rear of the residence. Assistant Chief Matt Kulesza reported heavy smoke conditions in the rear, with fire advancing from the kitchen. Crews inside the house reported the fire had breached the ceiling and advanced into the attic. A crew laddered their way onto the roof and began to ventilate the roof, which improved conditions inside the structure.

Fire Chief Joe Holomy said the main body of fire was reported under control at 2:26pm.

One firefighter was treated on scene for smoke inhalation, but was not transported from the scene. Another firefighter was injured, but Holomy said that the injury did not warrant medical attention on scene.

Holomy reported the fire originated in the kitchen of the home and was due to cooking left unattended on the stove. Damage to the structure is estimated at $50,000 with contents damaged estimated at $10,000. 

There were no working smoke detectors in the residence, which has been deemed uninhabitable and was boarded up before firefighters cleared the scene at 4:11pm.

Fire crews from Teutopolis and Altamont assisted on scene and a crew from Tri-County Fire Protection District at Beecher City staffed Effingham Station 1 in case of another call. Abbott Ambulance and Ameren also assisted, as did the Effingham Water Department who had to shut off the water to the residence as water lines inside were damaged.