On Wednesday, March 27th at 6:01 PM, the Monmouth Fire Department was dispatched to a possible structure fire at 301 South B Street in Monmouth. Information from the Warren County Dispatch Center indicated that there was a fire on the second floor of the structure. The alarm was immediately upgraded to a working-still triggering the response of additional Monmouth Firefighters and an ambulance from the Galesburg Hospital Ambulance Service. Ladder-40, Engine-23, and Engine-21 responded to the scene within 3 minutes and found heavy smoke and flames showing from the second story of the residence. Assistant Chief Cozadd established command and upgraded the alarm to the box-level requesting the Central Warren Fire Protection District and the RSP&E Fire Protection District to respond. The initial crew utilized an 1 3/4” attack line to suppress the fire from outside before making entry into the residence to extinguish the fire. The fire was brought under control quickly and firefighters remained at the scene until 7:43 PM.
Three occupants of the residence were at home at the time of the fire and were able to escape unharmed. The residence sustained significant fire damage to the second story of the structure with water and smoke damage throughout. The three residents are displaced and being assisted by 1-800-BOARDUP Victim Assistance and the American Red Cross.
Monmouth Fire Investigators completed an investigation and determined the cause of the fire to be accidental. Other agencies assisting at the scene were the Monmouth Police Department, and Ameren Illinois.
***Courtesy of Monmouth Fire Chief Casey Rexroat***
