The Jefferson Fire District reports heavy damage in a fire at Uncle Joes BBQ in Ina Sunday morning.
Fire officials say an employee inside successfully evacuated after smoke was discovered in the walls behind the grease pits. As the fire department was heading to the scene, numerous 911 calls were received reporting flames were visible on the outside of the building.
When firemen arrived, they found heavy smoke throughout the building in addition to the flames. They report extensive fire damage to the kitchen area and smoke and heat damage throughout the building that had been added onto multiple times. Firemen also had to cut multiple holes in the roof to try and get to the source of the fire.
The cause of the fire has not been determined and the State Fire Marshal has been requested to investigate.
With the amount of fire on arrival, Jefferson Fire upgraded the blaze to a full alarm and called Benton, Sesser, Ewing, Waltonville, Mt. Vernon, and Webber Township to the scene for mutual aid and Woodlawn and Wayne City to stand by at the Jefferson Fire Station in the event of another fire.
The fire call first came in at 9:15 Sunday morning.
While the firefighting effort was underway Wayne City along with Jefferson Fire responded to a brush fire on Marcum Lane east of Mt. Vernon. It was brought under control quickly with no buildings involved.
