A vacant house fire in Watseka Wednesday morning is under investigation. The house… at 617 S. 5th Street… was a total loss, according to reports from Watseka Fire Chief Ken Baier.

Three other departments (Crescent City, Milford and Woodland) assisted Watseka firefighters for about five hours. Riverside Ambulance was on scene. The call was answered just before 6:30 am. Fire crews found heavy smoke coming from the vacant home’s second-floor window upon arrival.

Firefighters tried to attack the flames from the inside, but could not make it to the fire room due to a hole that had burned through the floor.

Officials reported the building was condemned and there were no utilities. The cause of the fire is still being investigated. The fire is reported to have started in a 2nd floor bedroom. No one was injured.

94.1 WGFA