UPDATED 10:33 P.M.
PEORIA, Ill. – No one was home when fire broke out at a residence in South Peoria Monday night.
Fire Battalion Chief Scott Strum says the blaze started around 7:00 p.m. not far from Proctor and Westmoreland.
“We got a report from a neighbor of a residential house fire,” said Strum. “We got here, didn’t find anybody inside at the time. The building was occupied; however, the resident was not home at the time. We did search the structure and make sure nobody was in there.”
Strum says it was that same neighbor who helped secure some temporary housing for the adult female occupant of the home.
The multi-story home was older, which is the type of fire Strum says his crews almost prefer.
“Building construction…things have improved. However, it’s…more dangerous to our firefighters,” said Strum. “Even though the construction is strong, under fire loads, it fails quicker. An older home is built heavier, true two-by-fours, true floor joists, stuff like that. So, they hold up longer. We can usually stay inside an older home, than we can in a newer home.”
No one was hurt. The fire was found in the back of the home near a porch. The cause remains under investigation. Damage done is estimated at $60,000.
Strum says it also helps that the home was not far away from Fire Station Four, in terms of response time and getting the fire out.
Strum gave credit to the neighbor who called the fire in, for not only doing so, but also for helping out. He says he believes that’s just the kind of neighborhood the fire was in.
