MATTOON, Ill. (WAND) — A firefighter was sent to the hospital and several pets were rescued after a home caught fire in rural Coles County Saturday night.
The Lincoln Fire Protection District (LFPD) said firefighters responded to a home on fire near the intersection of Sugar Creek Lane and Wintercress Lane in rural Coles County just after 9:30 p.m.
Crews found a two-story home with a significant fire in the garage that had spread to the first floor of the house. Part of the home's roof collapsed shortly after firefighters arrived.
Due to the size of the home and how quickly the fire spread, the LFPD said firefighters were called in from several counties.
According to the department, fire hydrants in the area could not supply the amount of water needed to put the fire out, so a tanker shuttle was established. 17 tankers were provided by neighboring departments to shuttle water to the scene.
The residents were not home, but several pets were inside. One dog got out before crews arrived, and two dogs were rescued from the basement, with one taken to an emergency veterinarian. The dog is expected to recover. Another dog and two cats are still unaccounted for.
The department said Mattoon Ambulance treated multiple firefighters for heat exhaustion, and one firefighter was taken to the hospital as a result of the fire.
The home was deemed a complete loss, and the residents are being helped by family and the American Red Cross.
The fire protection district said the fire started in the garage, but an exact cause is not known yet. The department said it does not suspect fireworks were the cause.
Crews cleared the scene at 5:15 a.m. Sunday morning and returned at 7:30 a.m. to address additional hot spots in the daylight. 8 more tankers were used Sunday to shuttle water to an aerial water stream.
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