WEST FRANKFORT, IL — The Illinois State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating three fires that happened in West Frankfort Friday evening.
According to the West Frankfort Fire Department, around 6:50 p.m., reports of smoke coming from a house in the 500 block of South Emma Street were received by West Frankfort Police dispatchers.
Police and fire department personnel arrived within minutes and found heavy smoke and fire filling the home at 516 S. Emma St. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire and confirmed that no one was inside the home at the time of the fire.
Mutual aid was provided by City of Benton Fire Department, Buckner Fire-Rescue, Carterville Fire Department, Johnston City Fire Department, City of Zeigler (ZIG-ler) Fire Department and Abbott – Franklin County, IL through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). Crews cleared the fire scene around 10:12 p.m.
At 10:27 p.m., dispatchers received a 911 call from the 600 block of North Washington Avenue reporting a vehicle on fire next to a garage and residence. West Frankfort firefighters arrived on scene and located the burning vehicle at 609 N. Hughes Street. That fire was extinguished without incident.
At 10:28 p.m. while crews were still responding to the vehicle fire, multiple 911 callers reported flames showing from the roof of the home at 516 S. Emma St. Off duty firefighters from West Frankfort, assisted by Benton, and Zeigler Fire Departments were dispatched to the house fire.
As seen by several posts on social media, the home was fully involved before firefighters arrived on the scene. The MABAS System was once again activated and crews from Buckner, Carterville, and Marion Fire Departments as well as Abbott EMS responded to provide aid.
Johnston City Fire Department was also responding to the fire, but was redirected to an activated fire alarm at Kroger. The activation was determined to be a false alarm and Johnston City Firefighters remained available in West Frankfort in case another call came in.
Fire crews cleared the Emma Street incident shortly before 2:30 a.m Saturday. Damage to two other homes and a vehicle was reported but there were no injuries.