For the second time in less than two months, Jacksonville firefighters were called to 606 N. Church St. for a suspicious fire.
A nearby resident alerted the Jacksonville Fire Department around 8 a.m. Friday of smoke coming from the abandoned residence. Fire Chief Doug Sills said firefighters arrived in time to prevent the blaze from spreading and engulfing the house.
Firefighters were working from the outside to remove siding and get water to the source of the fire on the south side of the building. It was still smoking as the firefighters worked to contain its spread.
This is the second fire at the house this year. Firefighters were called at 5 a.m. May 26 to the residence and arrived to find heavy flames on the north and east sides of the building. The house was not occupied, and utilities had been disconnected at the time of the May fire.
Sills termed the latest fire as suspicious in origin. Firefighters were able to eliminate the smoke by 8:30 a.m.
The state fire marshal’s office has been asked to assist in the investigation.
Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott & Cass Counties was seeking information in June to assist the Jacksonville Police Department in its investigation of the first suspicious fire at the address.
Police are asking anyone who has information concerning this incident or any other crimes within the three-county area to submit a tip online by going to morganscottcrimestoppers.webs.com or by calling Crimestoppers at 217-243-7300. Tips that lead to an arrest could be eligible for a cash payout.
Tips also may be submitted by texting 274637 (CRIMES) with “payout” as the first word of the text.
Source : myjurnal
