A fire originating in the kitchen heavily damaged a home in the 300 block of Highland Drive this afternoon.
Normal Fire Department responded to 308 Highland Drive at 12:36 p.m. to the report of a fire in the kitchen spreading rapidly up the walls. The occupant evacuated safely along with her three dogs.
When firefighters arrived, there was light smoke showing from the front of the house. Firefighters made entry into the home and found heavy smoke conditions and fire in the kitchen in the northwest corner. The alarm was upgraded which added add an engine and battalion chief from Bloomington Fire Department. Firefighters had the fire under control in about 25 minutes and remain on scene working on ventilation and salvage operations. During their search of the home, firefighters found a cat without signs of life, removed it from the home and attempted to resuscitate it, but the cat succumbed to smoke inhalation.
The home sustained heavy damage to the kitchen and the room above from fire and heat with substantial smoke damage throughout the home. Firefighters had to pull a significant amount of ceiling and walls in the kitchen and on the second floor to find hot spots due to the construction methods used when the home was built which allows fire to spread more rapidly than modern construction. Ameren responded to the home to disconnect electrical service.
There were no injuries reported to the occupant or firefighters. The resident is receiving immediate assistance from the American Red Cross.
While the fire originated in the kitchen, the cause remains under investigation by the Normal Fire Department.
NFD Knocking down flames
