Fire Damages House in Jackson Township

Fire damaged a house in Jackson Township Monday night.

Altamont firefighters were called to the James Donaldson home on 950th Avenue southeast of Altamont at 9:34pm. Flames were showing when firefighters reached the scene, but the fire was contained to one room and its contents. Altamont Fire Chief Jon Becker, though , said there was smoke and heat damage throughout the structure.

Becker said the fire began in the northwest room of the house in the area of a wall outlet and space heater plugged into the outlet.

The residents were at home and Donaldson used an extinguisher to contain the fire while his wife phone 911. Becker said the fire had started to extend into the hallway, but firefighters knocked it down. 

The Effingham County Sheriff's Department and Abbott EMS assisted at the scene. No one was injured.

Firefighters cleared the scene about 11:40pm.