LERNA, Ill. (WAND) — The Lincoln Fire Protection District fought bitter cold and flames in Lerna Wednesday morning.
The district arrived at a home in the 300 block of Lincoln Street around 7:21 a.m. Heavy smoke was coming from the roof when the first engine showed up. Multiple hose lines and an exterior attack were used to extinguish most of the flames before firefighters entered to look for hot spots.
A burned-out home in the 300 block of Lincoln Street in Lerna on Jan. 17, 2024.
Firefighters were faced with single-digit temperatures at the start of the fire which created a challenge as equipment and gear became coated in a layer of ice during use.
A neighbor reported the fire and got a dog out of the home before firefighters arrived. No one was home at the time of the fire and the district has not determined the cause.
In a release, the district thanked the Waggle, Reynolds, and Ratliff families as well as St. Johns for providing coffee and hot chocolate for firefighters. Holey Moley Daylight Doughnuts and Mark’s My Store in Mattoon also donated food and hand warmers.
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