Fire Damages Home on Effingham's South Side

Fire damaged a home on Effingham's south side Friday afternoon.

Fire units were called to a home on the northwest corner of 4th and Edgewood about 3:15pm. Initial reports are that the homeowner had placed a battery charger on the automobile in the garage of the ranch-style home at 8am and left the overhead garage door open. Effingham Fire Chief Bob Tutko said it appears the fire started in that area, but said the determination will be reached after a report is received from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, who will be the lead agency determining the cause of the fire.

First arriving crews found the home fully involved in fire, extending through the roof. Crews deployed a deck gun to immediately knock down the fire and gain control of the situation. The man at home wasn't sure of the whereabouts of his wife so crews conducted a primary and secondary search of the home before the man reached his wife at work. The man was evaluated on scene by Abbott EMS, but he did not sustain any injuries.

Those on scene prior to the arrival of firefighters heard a sound like an explosion. The car parked in the garage was totaled, and the fire burned the front of a pickup truck parked in the driveway near the home.

Tutko said, "The quick and prompt response by firefighters and the use of the deck gun were instrumental in gaining control of a rapidly evolving wind-driven fire. There is extensive damage to the home as you would expect in a case like this."

The name of the residents of the home were not available shortly after the fire. Firefighters had the fire under the control by 3:30pm and were beginning cleanup around 4:20pm.

(THE AFTERMATH OF THE FIRE)

Effingham firefighters were assisted by firefighters from Teutopolis and Watson. Abbott EMS was on scene along with Effingham city police.