Rockton fire seriously damages house but not the cat
No one was home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries.
On Tuesday morning, Apr. 26, 2022, Rockton Fire Chief Kirk Wilson happened to be driving through town when he noticed smoke in the area. Turning on Ferry Street, he noticed smoke coming from the home and quickly reported the fire over the radio.
Firefighters from the Rockton Fire Protection District were dispatched to this residential fire in the 500 block of Ferry Street at 9:52 a.m. They activated a MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) alarm, which brought in fire departments from surrounding communities to assist, including Loves Park and North Park.
No one was home at the time of the fire, so there were no injuries. The family cat was rescued and later reunited with the family. A neighbor reports that the woman who was renting the house has four children, ages 7-15.
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Though the fire was quickly brought under control, it caused extensive damage. especially to the back of the house and porch, roughly $100,000 worth. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Red Cross was called in to assist the family and provided a place for them to spend the night.
Rockton Fire officials say, "A very sincere and heartfelt thank you to those first responders who assisted with the fire and to those who watch over our community when we were taking care of this incident. Great job by all."
Another house fire, this one in Roscoe, happened several hours earlier, also with extensive damage but no injuries.
Click or tap on the photo below to view an image gallery of the fire.
