PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria firefighters responded to four house fires between 6:13 a.m. Saturday and 4:23 a.m. Sunday. Three of the fires were determined to be caused by arson.
The latest blaze sent firefighters to 1317 S. Westmoreland Ave. at 4:23 a.m. Sunday.
The first engine company reported the front of the house fully engulfed. The fire had spread from the front porch to the attic.
Battalion Chief Tom Sander said crews were able to get the blaze under control in 30 minutes.
All occupant of the residencer were able to escape, but one person was transported to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation and respiratory distress. Additionally, one dog was found dead inside the home.
Two vehicles and the siding of a house next door were damaged by the fire.
The first arson blaze occurred at 6:13 a.m. at 813 S. Greenlawn, the scene of a fire early Wednesday morning.
Sander said the house was fully involved when firefighters arrived.
Crews made it inside before being forced to attack the home from the exterior because of the structural instability of the residence.
Emergency demolition was ordered after the fire was extinguished. There were no injuries.
The other arson fire began in a two stall garage at the rear of a home at 930 S. Western Avenue at midnight Saturday night.
Sander said the garage was fully engulfed in flames and collapsed shortly after firefighters arrived.
The fire spread to the 1 1/2-story residence and extended inside the house from the first floor to the attic.
The house was vacant and utilities had been disconnected. There were no injuries.
Firefighters also battled a blaze at 2:07 p.m. at an apartment house at 2403 N. University Street.
Sander said the first crew reported smoke coming from the front door of an apartment on the first floor.
Crews made a quick attack of the fire and found it had started in the apartment’s oven. The residents were able to escape unharmed, but were displaced by the fire.
The rest of the building sustained smoke damage, but the blaze did not affect the remaining two apartments and those residents there were able to remain.
There were no injuries.
