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Belvidere Fire Department faces busy week with fires
By Kathryn Menue
EDITOR
On Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 2:55 p.m., the Belvidere Fire Department was dispatched to Green Farm Town Houses, located at 1556 W. 6th St. in Belvidere, for a kitchen fire.
Belvidere Fire Department’s two engines arrived on scene within three minutes of the call to find smoke billowing out of the two-story structure.
There was one occupant in the residence who was able to escape the apartment but was unable to rescue the pet birds.
Two ambulances arrived on scene and treated the occupant.
After on-scene treatment, “the occupant refused transportation to a medical facility,” Belvidere Fire Department Chief Al Hyser reported.
No other incidents or injuries were reported.
The chief and the nine firefighters on scene were able to contain the fire to the kitchen area and extinguish the flames within 10 minutes of arrival.
In other good news, the “firefighters were able to save the birds,” Chief Hyser reported.
After the fire was under control, the fire department “turned the building” back over to management.
The cause of the fire is believed to be a cooking incident that resulted in about $20,000 worth of damage.
Then, on Thursday, Feb. 2, Chief Hyser happened upon another fire incident.
Around 2:30 p.m., as Chief Hyser was passing by a residence at 311 W. Hurlbut Ave. in Belvidere, he noticed smoke coming from the area.
After further investigation, Chief Hyser found flames coming from the back of the home.
“The chief called dispatch and Belvidere Fire Department responded,” the fire department released in a post incident report. “Within a minute, the first engine was on scene.”
The Belvidere Fire Department, consisting of the chief and nine firefighters, and two ambulances responded to the scene.
“Boone County District II was put on standby during the duration of the incident,” Chief Hyser reported.
Belvidere Fire Lt. Shawn Schadle reported that due to the department’s quick response, they were able to “control and extinguish the fire.” This all occurred within the first five minutes of the department’s arrival.
“The residents were not home at the time; however, their pet dog was in the house. The family dog was unharmed,” Chief Hyser reported. “Damage was contained to the porch with minimal smoke damage to the interior of the structure.”
No injuries were reported. The cause of the porch fire remains under investigation and is believed to have caused about $5,000 worth of damage.
