Fire destroys home Saturday

By Editor | October 19, 2011 |

A rural Vandalia home was destroyed by fire early Saturday morning, with the residents of the home escaping after being awakened by breaking glass.
Vandalia’s volunteer firefighters were called to the home of Monica Harre and Brian Brown at 8:09 a.m.

Firefighters arrived at the Shafter Township residence, located northeast of the Shrine Club, at 8:25 a.m., and found the home fully involved in fire.
Fire officials said Harre and Brown were sleeping when Brown heard breaking glass, and awoke to smoke in the residence. They reportedly broke and climbed out a window.
The home was a total loss, with fire officials estimating the property and contents loss at $200,000. They believe that the fire started in or above a porch area.
Fourteen Vandalia firefighters responded to the call, and they received mutual aid assistance from the Mulberry Grove and Fillmore fire departments.
Firefighters were at the scene for about 2½ hours.
The Vandalia department was also called out at 4:31 p.m. on Saturday for a cornfield fire in the Vandalia Lake area. Nine firefighters responded, and they were out for about 25 minutes.
At 6:24 p.m., firefighters were called to an apartment in the 400 block of West Gallatin Street to assist medical personnel. Four firefighters responded.