PEORIA,Ill. — Peoria firefighters were called to the 900 block of West Russell Street Tuesday morning on reports of a residential fire.
Battalion Chief Clint Kuhlman said crews arrived at approximately 8:43 a.m., finding fire on the home’s exterior that spread to the attic.
Firefighters had to use a chain saw on the roof to ventilate the heat and smoke to prevent the fire from spreading further to the attic, according to Kuhlman.
It took about 15 minutes to get the blaze under control.
Three adults and six children who lived in the home escaped before crews arrived on scene.
An investigator determined the fire was caused by “improper disposal of smoking materials in a garbage can.”
Damage was estimated at $65,000.
