Excerpts from wifr.com:
A Saturday fire in the Luther Center, an apartment complex for seniors, on State Street caused an estimated half a million dollars in damages and forced 85 residents into emergency shelters.
Officials say the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, the Winnebago County Emergency Management Agency, and the Forest City Church helped find emergency shelter for the displaced residents. The city is working with property management to move displaced people from the Red Cross’ emergency shelter to hotels over the coming days.
The building is currently uninhabitable, and the residents who weren’t able to find housing may be displaced for several weeks. More than 100 other residents were able to find temporary housing with friends and family.
The fire started around 2:45 p.m. Saturday at 111 West State Street. Seven engines responded where a fire had been reported on the ninth floor of the 15-story building. Fire crews found the source of the fire in the electrical room and brought it under control in about 20 minutes.
The fire reportedly left major damage to the electrical system, meaning power couldn’t be restored for residents.
A minor injury to one firefighter was reported; no civilians were injured.
