Police officer credited for spotting Mattoon house fire, calling for help

MATTOON, Ill. (WAND) - A police officer who was out on routine patrol is being credited with spotting a house fire in Mattoon and calling for backup. 

On Wednesday morning, an officer on patrol smelled smoke. They were able to find the source in the 2800 block of Pine and call for help. 

The Mattoon Fire Department responded just before 4 a.m. to a single-story, single-family home with smoke coming from inside. 

Firefighters were able to get inside and contain the fire to the room where it started. Other crews searched the home and found it to be vacant and under renovation.

No injuries were reported. 

The cause of the fire is currently still under investigation. All crews cleared the scene at 6 a.m.

"Special thanks to our police officers for locating this fire while out patrolling. This early notification kept this fire from becoming much worse," Mattoon Fire Chief Jeff Hilligoss said. 

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