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URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Crews responded to a fire at an Urbana apartment complex Monday morning.
At S Cottage Grove Ave. and E Harding Dr., officials reported heavy smoke just before 6 a.m.
A WCIA reporter on the scene spoke with Urbana firefighter Andy Stewart who said they first were called out for an alarm. The first engine on the scene saw smoke on the third and fifth floors, and quickly upgraded the response. The second alarm called more crews from both Urbana and Champaign to assist.
Stewart said as the building is a large, multi-family residence, rescues were a top priority. He added that there was smoke throughout the building because the fire started in a smoke chute on floor one, which allowed the smoke to spread to other floors.
No injuries have been reported at this time, and while the fire has been put out, Urbana crews remain on the scene to help with cleanup efforts and conclude their investigations into the fire.
Stewart wanted to remind everyone of the importance of fire alarms.
“Maybe you think it’s cooking on the floor below or floor above, but it can be this case, it can be this fire,” Stewart said. “And even if the fire’s not on your floor, that smoke can hurt us, kill us, and cause us (to be) dazed and confused. So those fire alarms, we’ve got to get out.”