Structure Fire Wednesday in Mattoon 

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Fire damaged a commercial building in Mattoon Wednesday afternoon.

Mattoon firefighters were called at 2:22pm to the 40-by-100-foot commercial building located at 312 North 16th Street, in the 1600 block of Champaign Avenue. Mattoon Fire Chief Jeff Hilligoss said no firefighters entered the structure due to the amount of fire already within the building. Residents in the 1500 block of Champaign were evacuated from their residence as a safety precaution. Power was cut to the 1500 and 1600 blocks of both Champaign and Richmond, and the fire was raised to a third alarm just after 3pm, bringing tenders and dump tanks to conduct a water shuttle operation to provide the amounts of water needed to extinguish the fire. All occupants were allowed back into residences, and all power was restored to the area, by 7pm.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal was requested to conduct a cause and origin investigation. The fire remains under investigation. No injuries were reported. American Red Cross assisted the occupants.

All fire units cleared the scene at 9:17pm.

Mattoon Fire Department was assisted at the scene by Coles/Moultrie 911, Mattoon Police Department, Charleston Fire Department, Lincoln Fire Protection District, Humboldt Fire Protection District, Cooks Mill Fire Protection District, Wabash Fire Protection District, and Ameren gas and electric.