2 residents safely evacuate Oglesby fire

Oglesby firefighters raced to a two-story residential structure about 11 a.m. Tuesday in the 200 block of Sunset Boulevard.

Oglesby Police Chief Mike Margis said two occupants evacuated safely from the residence.

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Oglesby, Peru, Tonica, Cedar Point and Utica fire departments spray water on a home Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, to extinguish a fire at a duplex home in the 200 block of Sunset Boulevard in Oglesby. Two occupants were evacuated safely from the residence. The fire happened shortly after 11 a.m. It was extinguished about an hour later. (Scott Anderson)

Oglesby Fire Chief Ron Popurella said the fire, which was extinguished 12:12 p.m., is believed to be an accident. An investigator from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, however, will investigate to try to determine the cause.

Popurella said one of the occupants, a woman, said she heard the smoke detector and walked to the front door before finding the door handle hot to the touch. She immediately exited through a rear door with her daughter.

The unit is unlivable, Popurella said, with extensive fire and water damage. Popurella said the three adjoining units also were deemed unlivable because of smoke damage and because power and natural gas utilities had to be severed to the complex.

Flames were not visible from the four-unit complex at 11:30 a.m., but firefighters still were actively working on the upper portion of the west side unit.

There, smoke continues to billow from a portion where siding was melted.

Initial reports suggested a fully-involved structure. The unit in question, however, does not appear to have caused fire damage to the adjoining units.

Peru, Utica, Cedar Point and Tonica firefighters assisted at the scene.