Fire Damages Home on South End

(A PHOTO OF THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE KENNY TUCKER RESIDENCE BY THIS MORNING'S FIRE)

Fire damaged a home on Effingham's south end just after 4am today.

Effingham Assistant Fire Chief Matt Kulesza said Kenny Tucker's dog is the hero. Tucker didn't hear the smoke detector sounding, but the dog's barking eventually woke him up and he got out of the house.

Tucker was burned by his electric blanket that shorted out, causing the fire. When Tucker pulled the blanket off him, the fire accelerated and burned one of Tucker's legs. He was taken by Abbott EMS to HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham for treatment of the burns and for smoke inhalation.

Kulesza said firefighters were able to contain the fire to the one bedroom and the adjoining hallway. There was also smoke damage to another bedroom and the kitchen area of the home, located at 104 Shadyside Drive.

Firefighters approaching the scene from the nearby Station #3 spotted the fire and moved the call up to a full still. All Effingham crews were on scene as was a crew from the Teutopolis Fire Department, and Altamont and Shumway crews staffed the Effingham stations in case of another call. Effingham Police Department also assisted at the scene until Tucker's son arrived to take possession of the home.

Effingham Fire Chief Bob Tutko estimated the dollar value of the damage done by the fire at $100,000.

Firefighters cleared the scene about 6am.