EFFINGHAM —
A house fire Friday night at the corner of Fayette Avenue and Linden Street shut down traffic for more than an hour as emergency crews tried to put out the blaze.
At 9:11 p.m., Effingham Fire Department was called with reports of fire sighted coming from a residence at the corner of Fayette and Linden. Upon their arrival on the scene, Effingham fire crews called a full still.
Medical crews treated one woman on the scene. It was unknown as of presstime if she or anyone else required further medical care.
Just 18 minutes after the initial call, the fire department had contained the fire. However, by that time the fire had consumed the entire inside of the building. Smoke continued moving out of busted windows and the roof until the fire was finally extinguished.
Watson and Teutopolis fire departments watched the Effingham Fire House while crews were at the fire.
Effingham Fire Chief Joseph Holomy said he did not know what had caused the fire by presstime and did not release any further information. An investigation is ongoing.
UPDATE:
Further details on the Friday fire at 701 W. Fayette Ave. in Effingham have been released by the Effingham Fire Department.
The fire department was dispatched at 9:13 p.m. Friday for a reported structure fire. The fire appeared to have started in the bedroom and fire fighters were able to secure the scene by 9:34 p.m.
Traffic on Fayette was detoured for nearly two hours due to the locations of fire companies.
One person was treated at the scene by Effingham City County EMS but was not transported. No other injuries were reported. Three cats died in the residence as a result of smoke inhalation.
Damage on the home is estimated at $40,000. The residents of the home, Valerie Bosley, Jonathan Pierce and children Dekota Pierce and Bobby Vance stayed with friends and spoke with the Red Cross on this weekend.
