No one found inside house fire Monday on North Eighth; two firefighters suffer minor injuries

QUINCY — No occupants were found in a house fire Monday afternoon at 535 N. Eighth.

A press release from the Quincy Fire Department says firefighters responded to a report of a house fire and several other calls for smoke coming from the roof. The first crews arrived on the scene at 12:34 p.m. and observed heavy smoke coming from a second-floor window on the south side.

There were initial reports of a person trapped on the second floor, so the first arriving crew immediately made entry to search for an occupant. The incident commander called for a second alarm, which brought all on-duty crews to the scene. The second arriving crew took a line up to the second floor and began extinguishing the fire. The third arriving crew connected a water supply hose from the first arriving truck to the fire hydrant.

During the search of the house, no occupants were found.

Crews fought the fire, which began on the second floor and made its way into the third floor, for about 20 minutes before it was mostly extinguished. They overhauled the second and third floors, looking for and extinguishing remaining embers. The last fire suppression crew left the scene at 3:42 p.m.

The Adams County Ambulance Service was on the scene in case it was needed. The QFD Volunteer Rehab Team also responded to assist firefighters with recovery during their break in operations. No civilians were injured. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries. Both were transported to Blessing Hospital to be checked.

About one-quarter of the second floor sustained fire damage, as did one-quarter of the third floor. The first floor sustained moderate smoke and water damage. The cause of the fire is labeled as undetermined.

Twenty-one firefighters were on the scene from four engines, a quint, the assistant chief, two deputy chiefs, the fire chief and fire investigators.