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DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — A house fire in Decatur was controlled in just over an hour Saturday morning.
At 4:14 a.m., the Decatur Fire Department was dispatched to Richmond Court to the report of a fire involving the rear of a residence. The first fire engine to arrive reported heavy fire at the back of the home in the back porch/kitchen area.
The engine deployed an initial handline and began extinguishing the fire. Additional companies then arrived on scene to provide support, establish a water supply, ventilate the structure and deploy additional hose lines.
The house was unoccupied at the time of the fire. The blaze was brought under control at 5:22 a.m. and overhaul efforts began shortly after.
An investigator with the fire department was called to the scene, but the cause of the fire is still under investigation. AMR Ambulance was on standby, and Ameren was contacted to secure the gas and electric utilities.
In total, 15 members of fire personnel including three chief officers and one inspector were present on scene. Four fire engines were on scene and one ladder truck was also used to fight the blaze.
Extensive damaged was caused by the fire throughout the home. It was later determined that the occupant of the house was at the hospital when the fire began and will now be displaced as a result.