Weekend fires in Fairview, East St. Louis leave 17 displaced

The Red Cross announced Tuesday that disaster teams continue to assist 17 people after separate fires burned homes in East St. Louis and Fairview Heights over the weekend.

A family of nine was displaced Saturday evening after a fire damaged their home in the 9600 block of Old Lincoln Trail in Fairview Heights. According to Fairvew Heights Fire Chief Brian Doyle, firefighters from his department and from the French Village Fire Department responded to the home around 7:30 p.m. to find heavy smoke coming from under the roof of the house. Doyle said the French Village crews attacked the fire from inside the house while his firefighters ventilated the roof.

He said the fire started in the kitchen and caused significant smoke damage throughout the home. No one was home at the time of the fire, and no one was reported hurt.

Earlier in the day, eight people were displaced when a fire burned their home in the 400 block of North 23rd Street in East St. Louis. It’s unclear whether anyone was hurt in the fire. East St. Louis Fire Chief Jason Blackmon could not be reached for more information.

The Red Cross is assisting the families with shelter, food and clothing.

This story was originally published August 11, 2015 at 3:33 PM with the headline "Weekend fires in Fairview, East St. Louis leave 17 displaced."