Firefighters pull 1 person to safety while battling Normal house fire

April 01-- Apr. 1--NORMAL -- One person was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries suffered during a fire Sunday night in Normal.

Normal firefighters were called to 101 E. Irving St. about 7:15 p.m. for reports of flames coming out of basement windows and smoke coming through the roof of the two-story house.

During firefighters' initial search of the residence, they found the sole occupant on the floor in the back of the house and pulled him to safety, according to the fire department. The resident was transported to Advocate BroMenn Medical Center by NFD paramedics, who reported he was conscious and talking.

As firefighters battled the blaze, off-duty Normal firefighters and a rapid intervention team from the Bloomington Fire Department were called in.

Firefighters initially fought the fire in the basement, but it spread inside the wall spaces to the attic, where it grew to involve the entire attic space as well, said NFD.

Firefighters then fought the fire for about another hour until it was safe to go back inside, where they fought the fire in the attic and second floor, and extinguished various hot spots, for two more hours.

The fire department said the house was built with balloon-frame construction, which means exterior walls are all one assembly without the usual fire stops at each floor like more modern construction.

The fire was under control about 9:45 p.m. as firefighters continued to pull down the ceiling and exterior siding to extinguish hot spots, said the department.

The fire department reported the house is heavily damaged, with a collapsed roof, and heavy smoke, fire, and water damage. A damage estimate was not available Sunday night.

The house was listed for sale, but the resident was still living there and all of his personal property was inside. The home and its contents are insured, said NFD.

Firefighters began clearing from the scene around 11 p.m.

This story will be updated.

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Contact Kevin Barlow at (309) 820-3238. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_barlow

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