Tuesday afternoon fire at 2201 Ohio under investigation; elderly couple finds temporary living arrangements

QUINCY — The cause of a Tuesday afternoon fire at 2201 Ohio is under investigation by the Quincy Fire Department.

The Quincy Fire Department was dispatched to a residential structure fire at 1:22 p.m. A press release said Engines No. 2, No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6 and the incident commander responded, as well as Adams County Ambulance and officers from the Quincy Police Department and deputies from the Adams County Sheriff’s Department. 

The first arriving crews reported heavy fire and smoke on the north end of the single-story ranch-style residence. Law enforcement officers who arrived first on the scene reported that the neighbors said they believed the occupants were still in the residence.  

The crew of Engine No. 5 made the initial attack on the fire, and the crew of Engine No. 2 conducted a search and rescue of the residence.  Engine No. 6 arrived on the scene and established a water supply to Engine No. 5 and pulled another attack line from Engine No. 5 to the south doorway to assist the crew of Engine No. 2. The crew of Engine No. 2 reported no occupants were located on the primary search of the residence. 

Engine No. 5 and No. 6 crews worked to extinguish the fire. The crew of Engine No. 2 conducted a secondary search of the residence and found no occupants or pets. Engine No. 3 arrived on the scene and assisted with the ventilation of the residence as spot fires were extinguished on the exterior and roof area.  Once the fire was extinguished, crews were directed to rehydrate and cool off.

Crews from Ameren arrived on the scene and shut the gas off to the house and disconnected the power to the residence from the utility pole.  Once the power was disconnected from the pole, the crew of Engine No. 6 completed an overhaul on the east side of the residence.

The elderly couple who occupied the residence returned home from running errands to discover their residence had suffered heavy smoke and fire damage. The couple has found temporary living arrangements. No civilian or firefighter-related injuries were reported.

Two fire investigators were on the scene. The Quincy Police Department, Adams County Sheriff’s Department, Adams County Ambulance Service, Ameren Gas and Ameren Electric assisted.