Vacant Decatur house damaged by fire

DECATUR — A vacant house suffered severe damage as a result of an early morning fire Sunday in Decatur.

The Decatur Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire at 1628 E. Hickory Street at 4:41 a.m. Sunday morning. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy fire throughout the house and fire venting through the roof and several windows. The residence had been vacant and boarded up for an indeterminate amount of time.

There was no indication of occupants inside the house, and defensive firefighting tactics were implemented. Hand lines were deployed and positioned outside the house to confine and extinguish the flames, effectively dousing the fire. This would take place until master streams could be established.

Through the swift and coordinated efforts of crews, the protection of adjacent buildings was ensured, and the risk to public safety was minimized.

No injuries to civilians or firefighters have been reported at this time. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau.

Ben Cox

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Cox is a broadcast media and journalism veteran currently working as news director for WLDS/WEAI in Jacksonville, Ill. He is also chairman of the Morgan County Libertarian Party.

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