This morning (Friday August 30th), a Nokomis family escaped with their lives from an inferno on Oak Street. A mother and her three children managed to escape a bedroom fire on the second story of a residence. The Nokomis Area Fire Protection District shared details of the firefight.
At approximately 2:48 AM, NAFPD was alerted by Montgomery County 911 dispatch of a possible structure fire in the 100 block of N Oak St. Chief 728 arrived on scene and reported heavy fire showing from the rear 2nd floor window of a 2 story single family home. The first engine arrived with three members. One member pulled a 2.5" handline to the rear while the engine officer pulled a 1 3/4" handline to the interior. The fire was knocked down by the large line outside, allowing the interior crew to make the top of the stairs. Automatic mutual aid from Witt Volunteer Fire Dept and Fillmore Fire Department began arriving, assisting with overhaul and salvage.
Due to low manpower, aid was also requested from Raymond-Harvel Fire Department and Pana Fire & EMS who each responded with an engine. Nokomis Witt Area Ambulance Service also responded. Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency was also on scene and was able to get the residents set up with Red Cross. NAFPD operated with 11 personnel and 3 apparatus at the scene.
The whole second floor suffered major fire and smoke damage while a large portion of the first floor suffered significant water damage. The house is structurally sound and should be able to be remodeled.
There were no smoke detectors noted in the home. This fire did start in an occupied bedroom and had it not been for another member of the family being awake, this would likely have been a multi-fatality fire. We urge residents to have a working smoke detector in each bedroom and in the common living areas.
