EFFINGHAM, IL-(Effingham Radio)- Multiple local fire departments battled a commercial building fire overnight on South Banker Street.
According to a Facebook post by the Effingham Fire Department, the Department was paged to the fire at 2301 S Banker Street at 10:19pm.
While en route to the scene, the Department was advised by dispatch of numerous 911 calls stating that a large building was on fire.
They then upgraded their call and added additional Effingham crews, Teutopolis Fire Department, and Abbott EMS to the scene as well as Watson and Montrose for station coverage.
Upon arrival on scene, crews reported seeing heavy fire conditions through the roof and began working to extinguish the flames.
At 10:33pm, the Effingham Fire Department upgraded their call again and pulled Watson, Montrose, Shumway, Altamont, Vandalia, a second Abbott EMS truck, the Red Cross Canteen, and Air 54 crews to the scene and pulled Edgewood and additional Altamont crews for station coverage.
The fire crews then ran hoses across Banker Street which shut down all lanes of Banker Street and traffic was being detoured by the Effingham Police Department, Illinois State Police, and Effingham County Sheriff’s Department.
According to the post, for about an hour over 3,00 gallons of water a minute was being used on the fire.
The Department’s then contacted Ameren for downed live power lines and to secure the gas feed to the buildings.
Effingham Public Works was also contacted to increase the water pressure.
At 11:46pm, the call was upgraded a third time.
This pulled Edgewood, Altamont, Beecher City, Stewardson, Olney, and Jasper County EMS to the scene and Ramsey, Brownstown, and St Elmo for station coverage.
The fire was later reported as being under control at 12:05am.
The Department’s called for a backhoe to be brought in to pull apart the debris for access to fires that were located under metal roofing and walls.
The building that had burnt had stored pallet and sawn wood and fire exposure was detected on a building to the east.
The EMS on scene provided rehab for the fire personnel with the Red Cross Canteen.
All lanes of Banker Street were reopened at 2:11am.
All fire crews cleared the scene at 4:30am.
The cause of the fire is under investigation and no injuries were reported.
