Fire Causes Damage at Burton-Devore Apartments

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Published on January 13 2020 12:08 pm
Last Updated on January 13 2020 5:02 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Fire caused damage at Burton-Devore Apartments Saturday.

Burton Devore Apartments 640

Effingham firefighters were called to the complex at Temple and Henrietta at 11:11am. Firefighters found heavy, thick smoke coming from under the door of Apartment 106 at the building. Firefighters were able to quickly contain the fire. Assistant Fire Chief Matt Kulesza called for a full still and brought other Effingham units to the scene, as well as a Teutopolis engine and chief.

Crews found smoke on all three floors of the building; manpower was used to check door-by-door on the apartment building residents. Firefighters assisted multiple residents out of their smoke-filled apartments to vehicles waiting outside the building, then exhaust fans were used to remove the remaining smoke from the structure. 

21 firefighters assisted on scene.

Kulesza said the fire started in the kitchen area of Apartment 106. The resident of the apartment was not at home at the time the fire was discovered. The fire did approximately $30,000 damage to the apartment, with approximately $6,000 damage to the contents and personal belongings.

There were no injuries to firefighters or residents. Abbott Ambulance and Effingham City Police Department assisted at the scene, along with City Building Official Michelle Wilkins. 

All units cleared the scene at 1pm.