Jefferson Fire Protection District officials say a firefighter received apparent minor injuries late Saturday afternoon when fighting a fire in a vacant home on Nagel Lane off Illinois Route 142 in rural Opdyke.
When firemen arrived on the scene, the fire was seen in the attic and the living room. The injured firefighter was hit by a portion of the ceiling just inside the front door of the home. He was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released.
Jefferson Fire Protection District firemen with mutual aid from four other departments were able to confine the fire to the attic and living room area, but there was smoke damage throughout. They note the vacant home was already in a deteriorated condition and is likely a total loss.
The cause of the fire has not been determined. The State Fire Marshal’s office was called to investigate.
Firemen received the call at three Saturday afternoon and remained on the scene for four and a half hours. Mt. Vernon City, Waltonville, Bluford, and Woodlawn Firemen all provided mutual aid.
Jefferson Rural Firemen were just finishing up at a shed fire at 11,545 Radisson Road south of Mt. Vernon when the call came in about the house fire.
Firemen say the shed was fully involved upon their arrival and the building, as well as all the contents, were a total loss. The owner of the shed was not immediately available. The cause of the fire is undetermined.
The fire call came in at two Saturday afternoon.
