Yet another fire broke out during the weekend in Morton at about 6:27 p.m. Saturday.
Morton firefighters responded to a call from a passing motorist who noticed smoke coming from the residence at 233 S. Baltimore Ave., said Morton Fire Department Chief Joe Kelley.
The owners of the house, whose names were not released, were not home when the fire broke out.
“It clearly had been burning for awhile before it was noticed by anyone,” said Kelley.
Kelley estimated the damage to be about $240,000. The damage inside the home was extensive, he added.
“The fire was contained primarily to that front-left room,” he said. “Heat and smoke extended throughout the house.”
A cause has yet to be determined. However, the blaze was not considered suspicious, Kelley said.
As firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, onlookers watched from First Mennonite Church, just off South Main Street.
Smoke was still billowing out of the windows of the home when a firefighter radioed, “Here comes the dog.”
Moments later, with its tail between its legs, a dog came running out of the backyard to the front of the home. Firefighters gathered its attention and were able to comfort it as it was visibly alarmed.
There were actually two dogs in the backyard during the fire. Only one belonged to the home and both escaped without injury, Kelley said.
The fire is the second in a week. Last week, a cooking fire spread throughout a Main Street home. It was initially reported that fire caused about $40,000 in damages. Kelley said he has reason to believe that estimate may increase.
