Passerby rescues woman from Mattoon house fire

MATTOON, Ill. (WAND) - A passerby is being credited with saving a woman from a house fire in Mattoon.

The Mattoon Fire Department was called to a house in the 800 block of Piatt just after 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Firefighters found heavy fire coming from the back of the home when they arrived.

They learned a passerby was able to alert the only person who was home and safely remove her from the house.

Firefighters were able to knock down the fire that was starting to extend to a neighboring garage.

An ambulance was contacted for an evaluation of the occupant and the man who rescued her from the home. Both were treated on scene but not transported to the hospital.

The fire was brought under control in 20 minutes.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The American Red Cross was contacted to assist the occupant.

The Mattoon Fire Department was assisted by the Mattoon Police Department, Charleston Fire Department, Coles/Moultrie 911 (Ccom), Office of the State Fire Marshall, Mitchell-Jerdan Ambulance, Ameren gas and electric, American Red Cross.