Investigators rule Normal house fire was an accident

April 04-- Apr. 4--NORMAL -- Normal fire investigators have determined the fire that injured a man Sunday night was accidental and caused by electrical problems.

The blaze that called firefighters to 101 E. Irving St. at about 7:15 p.m. originated in a wall space around an electrical outlet, the fire department said Wednesday.

Flames were reported to be coming from basement windows and smoke leaked through the roof of the two-story house.

Normal firefighters found the sole occupant on the floor in the back of the house. They pulled him to safety, and he was reportedly conscious and talking when he was taken to Advocate BroMenn Medical Center for injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

It took more than two hours for the fire to be brought under control as it spread from the basement through the walls and into the attic.

The house was heavily damaged, sustaining a collapsed roof and extensive smoke, fire and water damage. The damage was estimated to exceed $100,000, but the exact figure is pending insurance appraisal, said NFD.

The house was listed as for sale, but the resident still was living there. All of his personal property was inside, but the home and its contents were insured, firefighters said.

Kevin Barlow contributed to this report.

Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer.

___

(c)2019 The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Ill.)

Visit The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Ill.) at www.pantagraph.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.