(This is the news release issued by the Pontiac Fire Department on Sunday)
The Pontiac Fire Department was dispatched to Wright’s Furniture at 115 E. Madison St. late Saturday morning for a structure fire.
Upon arrival, the Pontiac Fire Department found Wright’s Furniture warehouse located behind the store on fire. Pontiac Fire Department immediately began fire suppression operations. Pontiac Fire Command upgraded the box alarm to the 6th level due to the size of the fire and the several hazards encountered during the operations which included transformers exploding and the warehouse collapsing.
Adjacent buildings began to catch on fire from the radiant heat which included Duffy Ambulance Service located to the north of the warehouse and Wright’s Furniture’s main building located to the south. Fire Departments on the scene of the fire were able to successfully save Wright’s Furniture’s main building but were unable to salvage Duffy Ambulance Service ambulance quarters. Several fire departments were called to the scene including Fairbury, Saunemin, Cullom, Odell, Chenoa, Dwight, Cornell, Gridley, Flanagan, Forrest, Lexington, Minonk, Reading, Chatsworth, Long Point, Streator, El Paso, Gardner, and Towanda. Ambulances from SELCAS and Dwight were also called in to assist Duffy Ambulance Service during the fire. In addition to Fire and EMS departments, several additional agencies supported the operations which included Vermillion Valley Dispatch Center, Pontiac Police Department, Livingston County Sheriff’s Department, Pontiac Wastewater and Treatment Department, Pontiac Street Department, Illinois American Water Company, Nicor Gas Company, Commonwealth Edison Company, St. Mary’s Church, Walmart, Jimmy John’s, county market and Casey’s General Store. The Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal was called in to lead the fire investigation. At the time of the press release, the incident was still under investigation and there is currently no report of injuries. Additional information will be released when the fire investigation has been completed.
