A fire that destroyed an apartment building in Westville’s downtown area Monday (February 12, 2018) is being labeled accidental. Westville Area Fire Protection District Chief Gary Wright says he knows what happened, and the fire was unintentional.
Chief Wright says the fire broke out in an apartment located behind the building that formerly housed the Williams Home Supply store along North State Street. He says a woman who lived there was doing something and accidentally started the fire, but the Chief did not elaborate.
Firefighters from 14 departments – including aerial trucks from Danville and Savoy’s fire departments — battled the flames.
There were no injuries. Wright says a female was home in an apartment when the fire broke out, but she got out safely.
Traffic was rerouted around Westville’s downtown area for hours as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze. Some businesses near the fire were evacuated – including CMS Accounting and Latoz Hardware. Both managed to escape damage.
Latoz Hardware released a statement asking citizens to keep their neighbors in your prayers. ‘’Thankfully they were not injured but our hearts go out to them for the loss they have suffered – as well as to those who were in the vehicular accident on route 1 earlier today.’’ The statement added that the firefighters who came from several communities to assist in putting out the blaze is greatly appreciated.
In addition to Westville, other firefighters that responded to help included units from the Georgetown, Lynch, Catlin, Tilton, Kickapoo, and Bismarck Fire Departments. Others who helped at the scene included firefighters from Fairmount, Homer, Perrysville and Covington, Indiana, FMC and Sidell departments. Danville and Savoy firefighters also assisted with aerial units.
