Fire spreads to multiple businesses in downtown Du Quoin
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
DU QUOIN, Ill., (KBSI) — A major fire at a downtown Du Quoin lumber company has spread to nearby buildings, damaging multiple businesses and prompting a significant mutual-aid response.
The Franklin County Office of Emergency Management and Communications said crews are battling a five-alarm-or-greater fire involving multiple commercial structures.
The agency’s communications division is providing dispatch and communications support for MABAS Division 68. Its Special Operations Drone Team has also been deployed to provide aerial support to incident command and emergency personnel.
Departments assisting with the response include:
Du Quoin Fire Department
Baldwin Fire Department
Benton Fire Department
Buckner Fire Department
Carbondale Fire Department
Carbondale Township Fire Department
Carterville Fire Department
Christopher Fire Department
Coello Fire Department
De Soto Fire Department
Dowell Fire Department
Ewing Fire Protection District
Herrin Fire Department
Jefferson County Fire Department
Lake of Egypt Fire Department
Makanda Fire Department
McLeansboro Fire Department
Mount Vernon Fire Department
Nashville Fire Department
Pinckneyville Fire Department
Sparta Fire Department
Steeleville Fire Department
Tamaroa Fire Department
Tilden Fire Department
Waltonville Fire Department
Wayne City Fire Department
West City Fire Department
West Frankfort Fire Department
Woodlawn Fire Department
Zeigler Fire Department
Pinckneyville Ambulance is also assisting. Additional resources include a MABAS Mobile Support Unit from Southern Illinois Airport and a Division 68/47 water-supply task force.
Du Quoin residents may experience low water pressure and occasional power outages as firefighting operations continue. CN and Amtrak rail traffic through the community has also been halted.
The public is asked to avoid downtown Du Quoin and give emergency crews room to operate safely.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
