A call to 911 at 9:38pm, Thursday night, required the Sterling Fire Department, Rock Falls Fire Department, CGH EMS and Sterling Police Department be dispatched for a possible structure fire on Griswold Avenue. Milledgeville Fire Protection District and Dixon Rural Fire Protection District were dispatched as part of the Full Still assignment as well.
First arriving units were on scene within four minutes of being dispatched and found heavy fire from the front of a single-story residential home. They immediately started offensive operations to extinguish the fire, as well as connect to nearby hydrant for water supply.
The fire was brought under control within the first 11 minutes of being on scene, but due to the fire damage, overhaul was needed as well to ensure no hot spots remained.
Although not home at the time of the fire, the family arrived early into the incident and reported no one was in the home. They did have one dog that succumbed to the fire products. No injuries to the responders were noted.
Also assisting on the scene were Sterling Code Enforcement, ComEd, NICOR, 1800-Boardup, Office of the State Fire Marshall and Red Cross. The home and contents were a total loss for the family unfortunately.
