DEKALB – Seven DeKalb residents are without a home after a fire on East Lincoln Highway in DeKalb caused about $100,000 worth of damage to a residential building Saturday, according to fire officials.
No injuries to residents or firefighters were reported in the incident, according to a news release from the DeKalb Fire Department.
Crews responded to the 800 block of East Lincoln Highway around 6:51 p.m. Saturday for reports of a structure fire, according to the release. When they arrived, they saw smoke coming from the second floor and roof of the home.
A search of the house revealed all residents had evacuated, and firefighters worked to get the flames under control in about a half hour, the release states.
Crews remained on the scene for four hours. The American Red Cross is assisting the families after the building was deemed uninhabitable due to fire, smoke and water damage on all levels.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, and an investigation through the DeKalb Fire Department is still pending.
A portion of East Lincoln Highway in DeKalb was closed for several hours Saturday while DeKalb firefighters responded to the house fire, confirmed Deputy Fire Chief Bart Gilmore.
The road reopened around 9:30 p.m., Saturday according to a citywide emergency alert.
An initial citywide alert sent shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday asked people to avoid the area. East Lincoln Highway was shut down from Sixth to Tenth streets for about two and a half hours.
Crews from Cortland, Elburn, Malta, Maple Park, Rochelle, Shabbona, Sycamore, and Water fire departments assisted, as did DeKalb police, DeKalb Public Works, ComEd and Nicor.
This story was updated at 9:50 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022 with comments from DeKalb Deputy Fire Chief Bart Gilmore. An additional update occurred at 2:20 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022 with information from the DeKalb Fire Department.
Source: The Daily Chronicle
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