Firefighters battle three-alarm fire in Mattoon

MATTOON, Ill. (WAND) - Several fire departments battled a massive commercial building fire in Mattoon Wednesday, according to the Mattoon fire chief.

Chief Jeff Hilligoss said his department first responded to 312 N. 16th Street near Champaign Avenue around 2:25 p.m. Wednesday.

Hilligoss said due to the size of the fire that a ladder truck from Charleston was requested. Later, additional fire departments were called to help shuttle water to the location.

Drone video from a WAND viewer showed massive flames around the entire building and a massive plume of smoke rising into the sky.

Hilligoss said power was cut to the neighborhood and several residents were evacuated from their homes on Champaign Avenue as a precaution. They were allowed to return around 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Firefighters worked to protect nearby buildings and homes from the intense flames.

Hilligoss said no one was hurt, but the American Red Cross is assisting the occupants of the building.

It's not clear what's in the building. A sign on the outside references a collectible's store but it's unknown if it was in business.

The Illinois State Fire Marshall's Office is helping with the investigation, according to Hilligoss.

At least five other departments helped Mattoon firefighters with the fire. Hilligoss noted the massive response and effort to put out the fire.

"I would like to acknowledge how proud I am of the firefighters at this scene in not allowing this fire to extend to any of the adjacent exposures," Hillgoss said in a statement to WAND News.

Fire units cleared the scene more than six hours after they were first called.

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