Fire Damages Mobile Home in Effingham

Fire damaged a mobile home on Effingham's south end Sunday evening.

Firefighters were called to the home of Kathy Clarkson at 4 Four Seasons at 6:20pm. Effingham Fire Chief Joe Holomy said the fire started in a clothes dryer and spread from the unit's electrical panel to the shelf above, and then up a wall to a dead space just below the roofof the mobile home.

Holomy said there was smoke damage throughout the mobile home. Clarkson had left shortly before the fire was spotted by a neighbor. The mobile home is uninhabitable. Holomy said Clarkson is staying with friends.

Ameren crews shut off the power to the residence, which also shut off power to a neighboring trailer for a brief time until the fire was brought under control, then service was restored to the uninvolved unit.

Jaycee Avenue was closed in the area of the fire for a brief time as hose was run from the hydrant across the street. A full still was called, bringing Montrose firefighters to cover Station One in Effingham and Watson to Station Three. Teutopolis came to the scene of the fire to assist. 

Effingham Police Department and Abbott EMS were also on scene.

Firefighters cleared the scene at 7:56pm.