Apartment fire causes $15,000 in damages

By Christopher Schimmel

A fire at a four-unit apartment building Tuesday morning left 10 people without a home and $15,000 in damages, but no injuries.

DeKalb firefighters responded to a 911 call at 321 Fisk Ave. at 7:19 a.m. after apartment occupants noticed smoke rising from their floors and walls.

Firefighters conducted a fire attack and primary search of the building, bringing the fire under control within 10 minutes. Sycamore and Cortland fire departments also provided mutual aid.

Two dogs were rescued from the fire uninjured.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, said Reuben Nelson, DeKalb assistant fire chief.

The occupant of the apartment where the fire started, Jim Loyd, was not home at the time of the fire.

The fire was concentrated mainly in the bathroom area, Nelson said, but smoke caused extensive damage throughout the apartment.

The DeKalb County Chapter of the American Red Cross provided food, clothing and temporary housing for the displaced, Services Coordinator Todd Mikesell said.