Robyn Skaggs
The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill.
(TNS)
Aug. 4—EUREKA — A woman has died and at least a dozen residents are displaced after a Friday night house fire in Eureka.
Officers from the Eureka Police Department were dispatched at 7:56 p.m. Friday for a 911 call regarding a fire inside an apartment at 814 S. Main St., according to a news release from EPD.
Upon arrival, officers found heavy smoke and flames coming from a lower-level apartment, and they were told that a resident may still be inside that apartment, the news release said.
The Eureka-Goodfield Fire Department arrived and started tending to the fire, the release said, and additional departments were called because the fire was spreading quickly through the three-story building, which had been converted into apartments.
Unfortunately, EPD said, due to “extensive rescue attempts,” a 58-year-old woman died in the fire. Additionally, 12 to 14 residents were displaced due to the fire.
In a news release, Woodford County Coroner Tim Ruestman identified the woman as Jennifer Adams. Ruestman said she was pronounced deceased at 10:55 p.m. Saturday, and died from inhaling smoke and soot from the fire.
No first responders were injured and two dogs were rescued from a top-level apartment, according to the news release.
Once the fire was extinguished and hot spots were under control, the scene was cleared around 3:30 a.m. Saturday, EPD said.
A cause of the fire was not available Sunday.
EPD thanked the following agencies for their assistance: the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police Troop 4, Illinois State Crime Scene Investigations Team, Illinois State Zone 4 Investigations Team, Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office, Illinois Department of Transportation, Woodford County Communications (dispatch), Woodford County Coroner’s Office, The Salvation Army, Eureka Public Works Department, Ameren-Cilco, Eureka-Goodfield Fire Protection District, Eureka-Goodfield EMS, and the fire departments from Congerville, Deer Creek, Secor, El Paso, Roanoke, Metamora, Germantown Hills and Washington.
Several members of the Eureka community, businesses and churches also came together to help those displaced by the fire, EPD said.
“This is what is great about this community, everyone is always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. Especially after a tragic event such as this,” stated Eureka Assistant Police Chief Kim Jones. “Members of the community were there on Friday night bringing drinks, snacks and food to the first responders and ready to help on Saturday morning with finding household goods, clothes, food and personal items for those that were displaced and lost everything.”
Contact Robyn Skaggs at robyn.skaggs@lee.net or 309-820-3244.
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