Two dogs died Sunday morning after a fire broke out at a Mattoon duplex on the 600 block of Richmond Avenue, near 6th Street. Neither of the apartment’s residents were home at the time and subsequently faced no injuries. This fire is believed to have been accidental…
Mattoon Fire was dispatched at 9:39 a.m. Sunday and arrived to find smoke coming from the eastern apartment. Fire Chief Jeff Hilligoss said a resident in the adjoining apartment heard smoke detectors going off next door and called 911. Dispatchers learned it was unknown whether anyone was inside, but it was confirmed later that two dogs were in the apartment.
“Crews entered the apartment with a hose line and quickly found the fire in the kitchen area of the apartment,” Hilligoss said. While some crews worked to establish a water supply, others searched for the pets. Mattoon Police had already found one of the dogs in a crate and carried it out of the apartment, and officers began giving the dog oxygen while firefighters continued battling the blaze. Search crews then located the second dog, brought it out, and handed it off to the officers, who tried to save that dog as well. Despite their efforts, both dogs died.
Once the fire was out, crews searched both apartments for any fire hiding in voids in the walls and ceilings. A fire department investigator is looking into the cause and origin, and while the investigation remains open, the fire is said to have been accidental. No firefighters were hurt.
The Mattoon Fire Department was assisted by: Coles/Moultrie 911, the Charleston Fire Department, Ameren, and the American Red Cross. Hilligoss also thanked the Mattoon Police Department and its officers for their efforts in trying to save the dogs.
