A house was destroyed, two nearby homes were damaged and eight people were hospitalized following an overnight explosion and fire in rural western McLean County.
According to their press release, the Danvers Community Fire Protection District responded to the 2500 block of Old Peoria Court at about 11:50 p.m. Aug. 25 after receiving reports of an explosion and house fire. Additional 911 calls indicated that multiple people had been injured and burned.
Firefighters arrived to find a home fully engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading to nearby vehicles and an adjacent residence. Eight people were transported to area hospitals, including three initially reported to be in critical condition.
Firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading into the living areas of the neighboring home, although its garage and west wall sustained heavy fire damage. Another nearby home was protected from radiant heat by a fence, which was destroyed. That residence sustained exterior heat damage.
An RV and several other vehicles parked between the homes were damaged or destroyed.
The fire was brought under control at about 5:30 a.m., although firefighters continued working to extinguish a fire involving an underground pipe in the basement of the destroyed home. Utility crews disconnected natural gas and electrical service while firefighters worked at the scene.
The Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office, McLean County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies assisted with the investigation. A canine unit from the state fire marshal’s office also was called to the scene. Additional agencies included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, McLean County Emergency Management, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Nicor.
Fire departments from throughout the area provided mutual aid.
The primary residence was completely destroyed, leaving only its basement foundation, with debris scattered throughout the surrounding area. No damage estimate was immediately available.
By about 6:30 p.m. Aug. 26, officials said all eight victims had either been transferred to other hospitals or released. All remained alive, according to the fire district.
Fire investigators remained at the scene until approximately 6:30 p.m. The cause and origin of the explosion and fire remain under investigation.
