Quick Acting Neighbor Helps Knock Down Fire at Temple and 1st

A quick-acting neighbor likely prevented further damage when a fire broke out in a home at 608 North First Street in Effingham Tuesday evening.

The fire was in the kitchen of the home of Wes and Jessie Wendte on the southeast corner of 1st and Temple. A neighbor spotted what she thought was flames coming out of a chandelier and phoned 911. The next neighbor to the south, Mark Verdeyen, was just arriving home about that time, around 7pm, and used his fire extinguisher to dispense dry chemical in the area of the fire. Effingham firefighters arrived moments later and checked throughout the house, but found no further damage, other than smoke throughout.

Effingham Fire Chief Joe Holomy said it appeared some paper packages on the refrigerator made contact with a lithium battery and started the fire. Holomy said sugar packets and similar packets have a low fire threshhold and they likely shorted out the battery. The fire spread into a cabinet above and a portion fell onto the kitchen stove, damaging the stove and also a microwave close by. Holomy said there was no structural damage to the house.

The Wendtes arrived while emergency crews were on scene. Holomy said they were encouraged not to stay in the home tonight due any remaining smoke and fumes that might remain in the home.

Firefighters were on scene about an hour. No one was injured.