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| Fire Destroys Rear of Knoxville Home |
A Knoxville home was partially destroyed by a late afternoon fire one block north of downtown Monday.
Firefighters from Knoxville, Abingdon, Maquon, Appleton, and East Galesburg were called to 205 East North Street at 4:20pm. The blaze ignited in the back, first-level room, and was contained within fifteen minutes.
Just as the fire began, homeowner Deb Mayhew tells WGIL she nearly left her 35-year-old disabled daughter and three grandchildren inside.
"I was getting ready to leave, and I had gone back in, my grand daughter was in the house (and) the dog had gotten out," she said. "I went back in to talk to her and I smelled the smoke, and yelled up to her if there was anything she had anything on. And then I went to the back of the house and it was in the bedroom."
Mayhew says her daughter lit a candle in the room while she was cleaning, and believes that's what started the fire. However, an exact determination into the cause is still under investigation.
All five residents did safely vacate the home. The American Red Cross is providing immediate assistance. Fortunately for the family, Knoxville Fire Chief Jeff Vandemark tells WGIL the fire wasn't severe enough to leave them homeless.
"It was just a room and content fire, luckily it didn't spread any farther," he said.
As for the heat, Vandemark says simply, quote, "it was hot."
Galesburg EMS was on the scene ensuring firefighters were properly hydrated.
(WGIL Photos and News Story by Kyle Schassburger). |
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| 07 24 12 by Newsroom |
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