WATSEKA, IL – A fire Wednesday in Watseka resulted in two people being hospitalized, including a resident of the home and a police officer.
The injuries were due to smoke inhalation, and both individuals were taken to Iroquois Memorial Hospital for treatment.
According to authorities, the resident of the home was initially treated at IMH and then flown to Loyola Medical Center in Maywood for further medical care. The police officer was evaluated for smoke inhalation at IMH.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, but it was reported that the fire started on the outside of the house and spread to the walls. Watseka Fire, Crescent City Fire, and Riverside Ambulance all responded to the scene at 533 S. 3rd Street at 9:10 pm to contain the blaze.
City Police were the first to arrive at the scene and were informed that someone was trapped inside the house. The resident was wheelchair-bound, and the police acted quickly, entering the home and successfully rescuing the individual.
Watseka Fire crews were able to identify and extinguish hot spots, preventing further damage to the property.
It was later discovered by investigators there were no working smoke detectors in the house.
