The Galesburg Fire Department responded to a structure fire overnight. A fire was reported at 10:00 pm on November 22, 2020, at a building located on the corner of N. Cherry St. and E. Water St. The response included all three stations and the 12 personnel on duty. Upon arrival, flames were showing through the roof of a vacant apartment at 179 N. Cherry. This apartment was attached to two units to the south, one to the north, and Tucker’s Printing at 193 N. Cherry.
Battalion Chief Derek Perry assumed command and received a report from Galesburg Police units on scene that some portions of the interior of the building were in poor condition. Central Station fire units set up the aerial truck and began putting water on the fire showing from the roof. Several other devices were set up to attack the fire in this manner. An initial interior fire attack was attempted but portions of the roof were reported to have collapsed, which forced attack crews out of the structure. Once the fire was under control from the exterior, the Brooks St. fire crews re-entered the structure and were able to extinguish the remaining fire on the second floor. The Fremont St. crews entered Tucker Printing and were able to place tarps on computers and printers to protect them from water damage.
An emergency callback of the preceding shift was initiated to provide emergency coverage for the city during the fire. A preliminary estimate puts the fire damage at $100,000.00. The fire is still under investigation by Galesburg Fire Department Investigators at this time.
***Report Courtesy of the Galesburg Fire Department***
