Firefighters save part of a burning building in Towanda

Posted on August 3, 2020
Airel firefighters saved part of a buring building in Towanda on Monday. (Photo courtesy: Katherine Murphy/WJBC)

By Blake Haas

TOWANDA – Firefighters were able to save three-quarters a burning building after a fire broke out at the Precision Tool & Die factory.

“When we arrived on the scene our first engine, we had heavy fire heavy smoke coming out of the building…We didn’t send any crews inside just because of the fire load and the type of structure that it was,” said Towanda Fire Chief Brett Lueschen.

Lueschen said thanks to two ariel trucks putting water on the fire overhead, a portion of the building was saved.

“Part of the building we were able to save. A good part of the building I would probably say about a quarter of the structure was destroyed by the fire. We have smoke and water and heat damage throughout the building. We were able to save about three-quarters of the building.”

Responding to the scene were Normal, Bloomington, Lexington, Hudson, Chenoa, and Towanda.

Extra water was hauled in to help battle blazes at a Towanda factory. (Photo courtesy: Katherine Murphy/WJBC)

A damage estimate is not available, and the fire is still under investigation.

The Chief encourages people to stay away from the scene.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…