The Kell Fire Department with mutual aid assistance from multiple other fire departments fought a fire Thursday afternoon in a home at 4873 Kell Road just west of Kell.
No one was at home at the residence occupied by Joe and Jessika Thorpe and owned by Dee Myers of Tolono, Illinois. The fire was first reported by a passerby who saw smoke coming from under the eves.
Deputy Chief Mick McDaneld arrived on the scene to find heavy smoke coming from the home and fire coming from the rear of the home out the bathroom window working into the attic.
Firefighters initially started with an exterior attack on the fire before entering the home. Smoke and heat conditions worsened forcing firefighters back out of the home. Firefighters then changed tactics on ventilation to free smoke and heat from the home before re-entering the home to extinguish the fire.
The fire was confined to the bathroom and an adjoining bedroom on each side, with heavy heat and smoke damage throughout the rest of the single-story home.
The cause of the fire has not been determined, with firemen on the scene until six pm. There were no injuries.
Salem, Iuka, Centralia District, and Centralia City firefighters provided mutual aid assistance at the scene while Odin and Orchardville covered the Kell fire station in the event of another fire.
Water was shuttled to the scene using tankers but having enough water never became an issue. Marion County ESDA shut down Kell Road during firefighting efforts.
The Red Cross was called to Aid the Thorpe’s.
