Fire destroys Cahokia Heights home and ignites debate on other city problems
Rumors about firefighters running short on water spread quickly on Facebook and by word of mouth Sunday after an early morning fire destroyed a home in Cahokia Heights.
But the rumors weren’t true, according to Cahokia Volunteer Fire Department Chief Stephen Robbins.
“We didn’t have any water issues,” he said Sunday afternoon. “We had a hydrant two doors down, and it was actually a good hydrant.”
The department received a report about 1:20 a.m. Sunday of a fire on Miskell Boulevard, about three blocks southwest of Walgreens on the other side of Camp Jackson Road (Illinois 157).
Firefighters arrived eight to 10 minutes later, Robbins said, but the house was already engulfed in flames.
“It was a total loss,” he said. “We believe it had to do with cooking. We’re still investigating that. But the initial report was that somebody was cooking, and they fell asleep.”
No one was injured in the fire, Robbins said.
Tracy Brickeen, who lives a few doors down, didn’t witness the fire because she was out of town, but another neighbor notified her and sent video that showed flames shooting into the air.
Brickeen said she understands how rumors about firefighters not having enough water got started.
“We have terrible water pressure, and the sewer system is totally destroyed down through here,” she said. “When it rains, it floods everywhere, and you have to have a little board to get in and out.”
Other residents made similar comments on Facebook. Some said their water smells like bleach and tastes bad.
The Miskell Boulevard fire also kicked off a separate discussion about firefighter shortages and other challenges faced by volunteer fire departments in the region and throughout Illinois.
Some called for the newly formed city of Cahokia Heights to establish a paid fire department with employees who could respond faster than volunteers.
“The Administration found money to pay all these other positions,” one person wrote. “They should find money to pay the fire personnel. PERIOD!! That way they can be held accountable!!”
Cahokia received help with the Sunday morning fire from Camp Jackson, Dupo and Prairie Du Pont fire departments, according to Robbins.
Neighborhood resident Jessie Hickman didn’t go outside to watch the fire, but he saw the orange glow and heard the crackle of flames and police sirens. He surveyed the damage later Sunday.
“The house is completely gutted,” he wrote in a Facebook message. “All that remains is a shell of the home.”
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This story was originally published March 20, 2022 at 4:24 PM.
