FIRE DAMAGES ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS HOME, PETS BELIEVED DEAD
Carla Buttram puts a blanket around her granddaughter,
Jasmine Hernanez, as they and Junior Olivares watch their house burn in Rock
Island on Tuesday, January 13, 2015. Rock Island firefighters responded to the
house fire at 604 6th St. around 3:30 p.m. One person was asleep inside at the
time of the fire but escaped after being alerted by a smoke detector. At least
two pets are believed to have died in the fire.
ROCK ISLAND -- A Tuesday afternoon fire on the city's
northwest side is believed to have claimed a family's pets.
Firefighters were notified around 3:30 p.m. when a
passerby noticed smoke in the rear of the home at 604 6th St., Rock Island Fire
Marshal Greg Marty said.
A woman and her two children live in the home, he said.
One person was in the home, asleep, but escaped after being warned by a smoke
detector.
Several pets also were in the house, Mr. Marty said. One
dog was rescued, but at least a cat and dog are believed to have been killed in
the fire.
As of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Mr. Marty said he had not
yet inspected the home as firefighters worked on the interior. However, initial
reports indicated significant damage inside, with the fire possibly starting in
or near the kitchen.
A relative of the family said the fire may have been caused
by a box on the stove that was ignited by a pilot light.
The one-and-a-half story home is covered with light
brown vinyl siding. On Tuesday afternoon, its outer walls appeared intact,
but fire that escaped through windows or doors melted siding and blackened
portions of the exterior, particularly on the west side of the home.
The Red Cross had been notified of the fire, Mr.
Marty said.