Two squatters rescued from fire in abandoned building in Danville

DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — An early morning fire in Danville has resulted in the total loss of an abandoned building.

Danville Fire Department Local 429 received a call around 4 a.m. Thursday. They were dispatched to 17 N. Jackson St. for a report of a heavy fire and heavy smoke on the second floor of the building.

Two squatters were on the ground floor and were quickly rescued. They were examined by paramedics, but no injuries were reported.

The City of Danville begins the process of demolishing the old building.

The building had been vacant and fenced off for 10 to 15 years, Assistant Fire Chief William Ryan said. The first level formerly housed a commercial taxpayer building that housed a barbershop, and the second level contained apartment buildings.

The official cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but Ryan said it may have been “incendiary” as the building has not had utilities for years. The first fire was extinguished within an hour, with firefighters checking hot spots and closing the scene three hours later.

There was a covered walkway between the building and the building that used to serve as a laundry that accepted linen from local hospitals. Part of the laundry room had already collapsed recently.

Firefighters battle a fire in a ravine at Fox Ridge State Park at night.

Shortly after the fire was extinguished, Owens Excavating & Trucking LLC demolished what was left of the structure. Danville Mayor Ricky Williams Jr. received Facebook thank the company for safe excavations.

These buildings were already scheduled to be demolished, but the city has not yet had time to do so. The complete destruction of the building ended around noon.

Danville Public Works Agencies and the Danville Police Department helped set up barricades and redirect traffic during the fire and excavation.

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