Officials: Highland house fire likely caused by accident

A house fire that broke out early Tuesday morning in Highland was likely caused by accident, according to Highland Fire Chief Rick Bloemker.

He said the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office is continuing to investigate the fire that broke out at 1901 Olive St. around 10:19 a.m.

“The fire marshal is planning to meet (Wednesday) with some of (Danny and Brittany Tucker’s) children before he will make a final determination,” Bloemker said.

Seven of the Tuckers’ eleven children, ranging in age from 4 to 19, escaped the fire that took firefighters about 45 minutes to extinguish.

Jacquelyn Reinke, a public information officer with the state fire marshal’s office, said the investigation will likely not be completed Wednesday.

“With juveniles involved, it usually drags on a bit longer,” she said.

Bloemker, however, said the fire was not of suspicious origin involving any of the Tucker’s seven children who were home alone when it started, and it was not caused by an electrical malfunction.

“We are 99 percent certain of the cause,” Bloemker said Wednesday morning.

When the Highland Fire Department arrived, they found the Tucker children outside and heavy fire coming from the living room of the home. The fire spread to the attic.

According to a press release from Highland EMS Chief Brian Wilson, all the children were transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland. All were subsequently taken to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Bloemker said.

None of their injuries appear to be life threatening, but two of the children remain hospitalized at Cardinal Glennon.

Brittany Tucker said Tuesday her two youngest children, aged 4 and 5, were in the intensive care unit and had to be intubated, because they had to put a breathing tube inside of them. Brittany Tucker could not be reached for comment Wednesday morning.

Nine of the family’s 10 cats perished in the fire.

The Red Cross is assisting the family with essentials like food, clothing and shelter, but they aren’t the only ones lending a helping hand.

A clothing drive sponsored by the Highland Jaycees began Wednesday, chapter president Zach Resmann said.

“Our chairman (Sarah Sloan) has offered her house as a drop-off point for the clothing drive,” Resmann said. Sloan lives at 723 Zschokke St. in Highland.

Resmann said those interested in helping should also keep their eyes out for additional events that are planned for later in the winter to help the family, including a school dance that doubles as a food drive and a “Burr-BQ.”

“We normally try to get involved. We’re always there for families,” he said.

Tuesday’s blaze was the third major fire the Highland Fire Department has fought in recent months.

On Nov. 28, Jack and Shirley Cygan died during a house fire at their home in the 700 block of Pike Drive.

On Aug. 9, a fire destroyed the office of Highland Chiropractic, 206 Walnut St.

This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 12:15 PM with the headline "Officials: Highland house fire likely caused by accident."