34 fire departments respond to massive downtown Du Quoin fire
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
DU QUOIN, Ill. (KBSI) — Officials are providing a clearer picture of the massive fire that tore through downtown Du Quoin Wednesday, damaging several longtime businesses and drawing a response from dozens of departments across Southern Illinois.
The fire was reported around 1:25 p.m. Wednesday near Home Lumber. Du Quoin Fire Chief David Durkota said crews arrived within minutes to find heavy fire already burning through multiple areas of the lumber yard and spreading toward neighboring businesses.
“We had a large, as you all witnessed, response of mutual aid companies,” Durkota said. “That comprised 34 total different fire departments on the incident, with 36 affected departments that backfilled those departments that responded.”
Durkota said about 125 firefighters were working active operations at one point. Police, EMS personnel, dispatchers and other first responders also supported the response.
No first responders were injured. One civilian was injured and is recovering, according to Durkota.
Crews used roughly 2 million gallons of water while fighting the fire. Durkota said the demand drained the city’s water tanks nearly empty twice, forcing crews to bring in additional water from the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds.
Firefighters remained at the scene overnight monitoring for hot spots. Durkota said one firefighter even slept in his truck while crews continued watching the area.
The fire damaged businesses that have been part of downtown Du Quoin for generations.
Allen Humphrey, who has lived in Du Quoin for 68 years, said some businesses in the area have been there for more than a century.
“That restaurant, you know, a lot of people go there and eat breakfast, dinner,” Humphrey said. “Like I said, they’ve been here for a hundred years.”
Humphrey said residents have long worried about how quickly flames could spread through downtown because the buildings sit so close together.
The damage is now raising questions about what comes next for a small downtown already struggling to hold onto businesses.
Humphrey described Du Quoin as “kind of a dying town” and questioned whether all of the businesses lost in the fire will rebuild.
Despite the devastation, residents and businesses stepped in throughout the response. Community members brought water, ice, cold towels and other supplies to first responders, while some businesses opened air-conditioned spaces so crews could cool down.
“It’s a good thing people stick together,” Humphrey said.
Du Quoin Mayor Josh Downs also praised the community response Wednesday.
Durkota said the support extended beyond physical donations.
“It was refreshing. Heartwarming. Blessed,” Durkota said. “You could almost feel the prayers being given last night on scene.”
He said donations, messages, phone calls, prayers and other forms of support were critical during the response.
The Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Arson Investigation Division and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting with the investigation.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
