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Cause of morning fire remains undetermined

Galesburg fire officials remain uncertain about what caused this morning’s fire to a one and a half story residence at 226 W. North St.

Fire Chief Tom Simkins says they do know the fire started in the first floor kitchen, however, what caused flames to spark is unknown. Simkins says “drop downs” or partial collapses often times makes it hard to determine the cause, as they did this morning. The fire was not believed to have been intentionally set, though.

Fire crews responded just before 1 a.m. to the home, where three people evacuated safely. The residence is split into two apartment spaces. A couple lived upstairs and another man downstairs.

In an investigation this morning, investigators found a tangled extension chord that was suspected, but was later found to had never been plugged in.

Simkins says “he is on the bubble” about whether the house will be able to be inhabitable again. The home, built in 1886, suffered what Simkins called “moderate” structural damage as well as smoke damage.

Crews were able to extinguish the majority of the blaze in about 15 minutes, but fire extending into the wall and attic took more than an hour to fully put out.

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