A vacant home at 8th and George in Mt. Vernon was heavily damaged by fire Saturday night.
Jefferson Fire reports flames were shooting from the front porch upon their arrival. They learned a homeless man had been staying on the front porch, but a quick search of the home failed to find anyone inside. The man was later found safe elsewhere.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Firemen were able to confine it to the porch and attic area above the porch, but the entire home had substantial heat and smoke damage. The fire never burned through the roof.
The owner of the home, whose name was not immediately available, apparently was getting ready to rehabilitate the home.
The fire call came in at 8:30 Saturday night, with firemen on the scene for two and a half hours. Mt. Vernon City, Bluford, Kell, and Wayne City Firemen all assisted at the scene, while Ashley and Waltonville stood by at the Jefferson Fire Station in the event of another fire.
