ELDORADO, Ill.—It appears that there has been one fatality in the fire tonight in downtown Eldorado.
The fire earlier this evening, Thursday, October 29, occurred in an apartment at a complex on Third Street just southeast of the downtown area, located next to Gospel Assembly Church, and was called in at about 7:05 p.m.
Nineteen Twenty-one firefighters responded to the blaze with two engines; an Ameren service crew also responded.
Neighbors of the apartment where the fire was located advised that they left to get groceries, and when they arrived back at their place about 20 minutes later, flames were “popping out the windows” of the adjoining apartment.
Ameren responded with a service crew to disconnect power. Firefighters arrived early but were delayed from responding immediately until the main electric box, feeding all the apartments, was located and power was cut. A firefighter was shocked when an aluminum ladder touched the aluminum flashing around the roof. Ameren had to be called to disconnect the power.
Saline County coroner’s van arrived shortly after we did.
Three individuals have been displaced from their apartments. Some we have confirmed will spend the night with friends and neighbors. We are working on finding out where the others will stay or if they’re in need of assistance.
Residents in the adjoining apartments all got out okay.
Sources at the scene are confirming a death, but we are withholding the name pending release. Here are some photos of the fire as it was burning about an hour ago (7:10 p.m.) as sent by a reader:
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Witnesses told us the flames were at least 40 feet high at the height of the blaze.
More as we get it; keep checking back.
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