Fire destroys one Cairo home, damages another

CAIRO, Ill. -- The cause of a fire that destroyed one Cairo home and damaged another is still undetermined, Cairo Fire Department Capt. Brandon Manker said Tuesday.

Cairo, Mounds and Mound City crews responded to the blaze at 414 and 416 George St. around 1 a.m. Tuesday. The fire began at 414 George St., Manker said, but spread to a neighboring home through a carport.

Manker said crews had some difficulty extinguishing the blaze at 414 George St. after the roof collapsed and spread the fire to the home's basement. The fire at 416 George St. was contained quickly, he said.

Both residences were occupied and both had utilities turned on. No one was injured in the incident.

"There are no obvious signs of arson or signs of an accidental fire," Manker said. "We've been unable to determine either way."

The state fire marshal's office and local authorities are still investigating, he added.

Tuesday's fire is the second in seven days. An unoccupied residence that had just been purchased for renovations was destroyed Feb. 22 in the 2200 block of Martin Luther King Avenue.

Pertinent Address:

414 George St., Cairo, IL

416 George St., Cairo, IL

2200 Martin Luther King Avenue, Cairo, IL