PEORIA, Ill. – Nine people escape injury from a Peoria house fire.
Peoria firefighters were called to 607 Phelps St. in the city’s North Valley at 10:07 p.m. Saturday.
The first crews reported heavy smoke coming from the residence and, once inside, reported a fire in the basement.
Battalion Chief Scott Strum says all levels of the two-story residence were searched under high heat and heavy smoke conditions and it was determined that all nine occupants had escaped.
Strum said it took 50 minutes to get the fire under control due to “a heavy contents load, complicated layout configuration and the fire extending to the second story.”
Additional crews were called to the scene to relieve “exhausted firefighters,” according to Strum.
The structure suffered major smoke damage throughout and heavy fire damage to the basement and a second story bedroom.
The cause of the blaze is undetermined and damage is estimated at $120,000.
Strum said Peoria Police provided traffic control during the blaze and Advanced Medical Transport was on stand-by for medical care.
A board-up crew was called to secure the structure which was turned back over to the homeowner.
No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported.
