Fire Damages Effingham Apartment Overnight

Effingham and area firefighters were called to an apartment fire late Monday night.

The call came at 11:43pm of an apartment filling with smoke at 707 East Jefferson Avenue. As firefighters arrived, there was smoke showing from the exterior front side of a two-story house that had been converted into four apartments. Effingham Fire Chief Brant Yochum said fire crews performed an aggressive interior fire attack and contained the fire to a first floor apartment living room. There was no one home at that apartment at the time of the fire. Everyone from the other apartments were able to escape without assistance.

Firefighters were on scene for just over two hours. 

Effingham Fire Department was assisted by Effingham City Dispatch, Effingham Police Department, Rural Med EMS, Teutopolis Fire Protection District, Shumway Fire Protection District, and Effingham County Sheriff's Office. Station coverage was provided by Altamont and Dieterich Fire Protection Districts.

The cause of the fire was ruled accidental.