A Wednesday afternoon apartment fire in Mattoon displaced six residents and left two units completely unsuitable to live in. Mattoon Fire Chief Jeff Hilligoss says that thanks to a group of quick-thinking bystanders, no one was hurt by the blaze.
The Mattoon Fire Department was called to the 1300 block of Lafayette Avenue just after 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday for a reported structure fire with occupants possibly still inside. Crews arrived in just two minutes to find a two-and-a-half story duplex at 1304 Lafayette with fire and smoke coming from the back of the building. While crews deployed a hose line and began fighting the fire, two additional teams conducted a primary search of both units. When firefighters arrived, bystanders were already in the process of helping an elderly woman evacuate her apartment, an effort Fire Chief Jeff Hilligoss specifically credited to preventing any injuries.
The fire was said to have been brought under control by 3:56 p.m.. Both units were declared uninhabitable as a result of the fire, and all six displaced occupants are being assisted by the American Red Cross. The cause of the fire however still remains under investigation. All units declared the scene safe and cleared out at 6:14 p.m..
The Mattoon Fire Department was assisted by Coles/Moultrie 911, Mattoon Police, Charleston Fire, Mattoon Public Works, Ameren, and the American Red Cross.
