By Blake Haas
NORMAL – Thanks to firefighters’ quick action and a closed door, an early morning fire in an attached garage did not spread into a home.
Normal Firefighters responded around 1:45 a.m. to 2334 Heather Ridge Drive to reports of a garage fire. When firefighters arrived, they saw heavy smoke visible coming from the three-car garage of the two-story home.
NFD says the occupants inside the home evacuated safely outside. Once on the scene, firefighters brought the fire under control within 10 minutes.
NFD reports heavy smoke and heat damage throughout the garage and its contents, which included one vehicle inside. The door leading from the garage to the home remained closed during the fire and prevented smoke and flames from entering the home.
“This is a perfect example of how a closed-door stopped fire and smoke from spreading and allowed this family to escape their home safely,” Matt Swaney, Normal Fire Department Public Information Officer said. “When you go to bed at night, make sure all the doors in your home are closed. Every closed door is another barrier that prevents the fire and smoke from spreading into your way out. In this case, like so many others, one side of the door was charred and blackened by heat and smoke, while the other side shows virtually no signs of ever being in a fire.”
Fire investigators remained on the scene until about 4:45 a.m. and continue working to determine the fire’s origin and cause. The fire remains under investigation.
A damage estimate is not available at this time. There were no injuries, and the home is insured.
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].
