FIRE DESTROYS PORTION OF CAIRO HOUSING PROJECT

CAIRO, Ill. -- A portion of the Little Egypt Housing Development Corporation's low-income housing project was destroyed by fire Friday.

Cairo firemen battled the fire -- which started about 5:30 a.m. -- most of the day, and saved the newer two-story complex which contains 17 apartments.

"We were still at the site at 6 p.m. Friday," said Cairo Fire Chief Mike Brey. "Some of the siding was melted on the new buildings."

The building was occupied, but no injuries were reported in the fire.

The Illinois Fire Marshall's office said arson was not suspected, but an investigation is being conducted.

Destroyed were the 20 rooms of the former Manor Motel, which had been transformed into 20 single-occupancy units.

The complex, located in the 1800 block of Poplar Street, was completed in November 1994.

It consists of four two-story buildings with a courtyard and playground between. The new section was located behind the older motel.

The multifamily rental housing, the first built in Cairo since the early 1940s when two housing projects -- Elmwood Place and McBride Place (formerly Pyramid Courts) -- were constructed, was funded by the Farmers Home Administration and the Illinois Housing Development Authority HOME Program.

This is the city's first major fire in a housing project, although minor fires have occurred.