Delavan fire displaces seven; officer helps in evacuation
DELAVAN — An early morning fire displaced seven Delavan people Monday.
Delavan firefighters were dispatched to 130 S. Fifth St. at 3:30 a.m. for the report of a back porch on fire.
The upper apartment in the house is accessed by an enclosed stairway connected to the back porch, said Delavan Police Chief Timothy O'Neill, who also is a volunteer firefighter.
Delavan police officer Christopher Kristalidis arrived at the home shortly before the fire department and evacuated the upstairs residents, who were asleep.
The smoke alarm in the upper apartment had not sounded.
Kristalidis led the residents down the enclosed stairway past the fire.
The three people in the downstairs apartment evacuated by themselves.
"Officer Kristalidis did a wonderful job in adverting a tragedy," O'Neill said.
Firefighters arrived a few minutes later and were able to knock down the fire quickly, despite windy conditions.
The National Weather Service in Sullivan reported wind gusts of between 40 and 48 mph at the time of the fire.
Damage was limited to the back porch and kitchen of the first floor apartment.
Damage estimates were not available, and the cause of the fire remained under investigation Monday.
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