Still Looking for the Cause of Sunday Morning Fire in St. Peter

Things are getting back to normal in St. Peter following a fire early Sunday morning that destroyed four downtown buildings.

St. Peter Fire Chief Kevin Jenne said the cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Jenne said Fayette County 911 received a call from a neighbor around 1am about the fire, which Jenne said began in the office building or storefront housing Authentic Street Signs. 

Fire companies from Edgewood, Vandalia, Farina, Kinmundy-Alma, Patoka, Brownstown and St. Elmo assisted St. Peter firefighters. Crews from Rural Med EMS, Fayette County EMA, Red Cross and Fayette County Sheriff's Office were also on hand.

Jenne said firefighters cleared the scene about 8:30 or 9am Sunday to let Ameren replace power poles and to allow IDOT to clear Illinois Route 185 that runs through the fire scene of ice that had formed as fire crews handled the blaze. He said fire crews then returned to work handling hot spots. Jenne said the last fire engine cleared the scene between 4 and 4:30pm Sunday.

Water service is back to normal in St. Peter. After fighting the fire used up the existing water supply, Jenne said EJ Water Cooperative and Fayette County Water Company had the water supply restored within a couple of hours.

Despite the intensity of the fire and the frigid conditions, Jenne said no one was injured.