Fire Damages Structure on Jefferson Avenue

Fire damaged a structure at 908 West Jefferson Avenue at 4:15pm Monday.

Effingham Assistant Fire Chief Matt Kulesza said the cause of the fire is still being determined. No one lived in the structure.

Kulesza said the fire started in the northwest portion of the building. Smoke was coming out of the west and north corners of the structure when firefighters reached the scene, and a room was fully involved. Firefighters went in with two lines from the front and rear and encountered high heat and heavy smoke. Kulesza said crews had the fire contained within 15-20 minutes. 

The structure is owned by Jim Ousley.

While firefighters were working the structure fire, a transformer blew out that caused power losses in parts of Effingham and Teutopolis. Watson firefighters were dispatched to the transformer incident while Effingham were assisted by Teutopolis and Shumway firefighters on the Jefferson call. Montrose firefighters also assisted.

An Illinois State Fire Marshal official was called in to assist with the Jefferson Avenue fire.