Sunday House Fire in Effingham

Effingham Fire Department was called to a house fire Sunday morning in the 600 block of Fayette Avenue at 11:19am.

According to Effingham Assistant Fire Chief Matt Kulesza the house had been purchased for the Fayette Avenue reconstruction project. Someone had broken into the home and was living inside. They had taken wood inside the home and were using it as a fireplace. A log fell out of the fireplace and fell into the basement where it ignited material and then the fire spread up into the house.

Authorities were not able to locate anybody in or leaving the house.

Effingham police and fire, along with Altamont, Teutopolis, Dieterich and Shumway firefighters all responded and were able to clear the scene after approximately an hour.