Published on April 7, 2025 8:28 am
Last Updated on April 8, 2025 11:12 am
Fire destroyed a home in Lake Edward Estates, northwest of Effingham, early Monday morning.
(PHOTO COURTESY OF JWILL ADVENTURES)
Firefighters were called to the home of Dr. Thomas Fonner at 11150 East Cambridge Lane at 1:30am. Dr. Fonner said at the scene that he awakened by his smoke detector that indicated heat and smoke in the garage. He went to check and found a vehicle he had recently purchased on fire. He attempted to get the vehicle out of the house, but by that time, the fire had spread to the home itself. The home appears to be a total loss.
Dr. Fonner was not injured. A local firefighter was injured inside the home when conditions changed leading to an evacuation of crews inside the structure. The firefighter fell on a stairwell. He was taken to HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham for evaluation, then was later released.
Firefighters from Shumway, Watson, Tri County, Altamont, Dieterich, Effingham, Shelbyville, St. Elmo, Edgewood and Brownstown were all on scene and fire companies from Kinmundy-Alma, Greenup and Stewardson provided station coverage in the event of another fire call while crews were on scene. Rural Med EMS, Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, Ameren Gas and Electric and the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office were also on scene. The Fire Marshal was called in to help officially determine the cause of the fire.
