Edgewood home destroyed by fire

April 04--Outdoor playthings for young children lay scattered around the property where a home was destroyed by fire in Edgewood early Tuesday morning.

Owner Dillon Beccue, 25, said he woke up choking to a smoke filled house late Monday night. Several hours later he stood beside the pile of debris left behind. He said nothing from the home is salvageable.

Late Monday night, he quickly grabbed his two young children, a 2-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter, and carried them, covered in a blanket, out of the house on Oak Street.

"Flames were coming through the bedroom door," said Beccue.

Beccue said he placed the children in the cab of his pickup truck and moved it to safety, then went inside to retrieve pets. The dog and cat were never found, but he saved two turtles that were in an aquarium.

"It's a nightmare," said Beccue. "It's a nightmare I can't wake up from. This is everything I ever worked for. This is the worst thing I've ever been through."

Beccue said everything was lost, and most disturbing were photos and photo albums that he couldn't save from the fire.

The modular home, located about a block from the Bi-County Fire Protection District, was destroyed after firefighters responded twice to the site on Monday night and Tuesday morning. While not confirmed, the possible cause of the fire was the dryer, a fire official said.

First Assistant Chief Jason Bowen said the first call came at 11:30 p.m. Monday. The firefighters left the scene at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, only to be called back to a rekindled fire at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. They left the second time at 8:30 a.m.

Bowen said the American Red Cross has been notified about the family's losses.

"My kids were my main concern," said Beccue.

He said he's lived alone with his children for the past two years. He's lived in that home for about seven years.

Beccue said his children will stay temporarily with his mother while he seeks a place for them to live. He had no insurance on the home. The estimated loss wasn't available Tuesday afternoon.

Several area fire protection districts aided Edgewood, including Farina, St. Peter, Altamont, St. Elmo and Montrose.

Contact Dawn Schabbing at dawn.schabbing@effinghamdailynews.com or 217-347-7151, ext. 138

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