Vacant house in Decatur catches fire, investigation underway

DECATUR, Ill. (WICS) — The Decatur Fire Department responded to a fully involved fire at a vacant house on May 5, following a report from the Decatur Police Department.

Engine 6 was the first to arrive at the scene, deploying a master stream to quickly knock down the heavy fire and protect nearby structures before using attack lines.

The structure, which has been the site of multiple previous fires, required additional crews to take defensive positions outside. Truck 1, equipped with a 100-foot aerial bucket, and Truck 2, with a 107-foot aerial ladder, played crucial roles in extinguishing the blaze, allowing firefighters to operate more safely during suppression and overhaul efforts.

Once the main body of the fire was under control, crews engaged in extensive overhaul operations that lasted several hours. No occupants were inside the home at the time of the incident. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Decatur Fire Department.