Excerpts from jg-tc.com:
Two Mattoon firefighters were injured and eight residents were displaced by an early Wednesday morning apartment fire.
Mattoon Fire Department Chief Jeff Hilligoss said crews responded to a report of a structure fire at 1312 Lafayette at 1:35 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find fire and smoke showing from the third floor windows of the three-story apartment building.
“Firefighters were met on the second floor with heavy smoke, crews then advanced to the third floor and began attacking the fire under heavy smoke, and high heat conditions,” he said.
The fire was contained to the third floor, and the room of origin. Firefighters had the fire under control within 15 minutes, then began checking for fire extension. The building had extensive fire damage to the third floor and smoke and water damage throughout six apartments.
No occupants were injured, but two firefighters received minor burns. One of the firefighters sought treatment as a precaution, and was released and returned to the fire scene.
Firefighters were assisted at the scene by Mattoon police, Coles-Moultrie 911, Mitchell-Jerdan Ambulance, the Charleston Fire Department, the American Red Cross, and Ameren Illinois.
