A fire in East Peoria left a resident without a home early Sunday evening after flames engulfed the dwelling located in the 500 block of Sanford Street. East Peoria firefighters responded to the call at approximately 5:20 p.m., as reported by 25News. The occupant of the house was not present when the fire started, sparing them from harm.

Two felines found amidst the ordeal were safely retrieved and returned to the resident, according to Assistant Fire Chief Andy Ogburn. In a statement obtained by 25News, Ogburn estimated the damages to the property to be around $15,000. Despite the material losses, it is a relief that no human injuries were reported. The fire was considered unintentional, though no further specifics have been disclosed.

Echoing the reports, Central Illinois Proud also covered the incident, highlighting the safety of the homeowner's pets. Their coverage confirmed that the fire's outbreak occurred just after 5:20 p.m. and that no injuries were sustained during the event. The source reiterated the fire department's stance that the cause of the blaze had not involved any malicious intent.

As the East Peoria community copes with this event, the fire department's quick response likely prevented further escalation of the fire, reducing potential additional damage.