The Galesburg Fire Department battled two structure fires, twelve hours apart, on Friday, March 17, 2023. The house fire in the morning was determined to be accidental while the garage fire Friday night was determined to be intentionally set. No injuries were reported from either fire. The first fire was around 11:20 AM, eleven personnel on duty from all three stations responded to a two-story house fire at 862 Monmouth Blvd. Fire crews arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the southwest corner of the second floor. Battalion Chief Dave Farrell established command and fire crews extinguished the fire on the second floor and attic. Off-Duty personnel were initiated to provide emergency coverage for the City. Preliminary damage is estimated at $20,000. The second floor sustained heavy fire and smoke damage. Galesburg Fire Investigators determined the fire to be accidental.
The second fire was around 11:15 PM for a garage fire at 475 N. Cedar Street. Eleven personnel on duty from all three stations arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the Northeast corner of a detached garage, that was near another garage. Battalion Chief Dave Farrell established command and fire crews extinguished the fire. Off-duty fire personnel were initiated to provide emergency coverage for the City. Preliminary damage is estimated at $5,000. The fire was determined to be intentionally set and is under investigation by Galesburg Police and Fire Investigators.
