House fire in Rockford overnight attributed to vagrants

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A fire on Winnebago Street early Thursday morning has been attributed to vagrants, according to fire department officials.

Firefighters were called to a neighborhood of the 700 block of N. Winnebago around 4:58 a.m.

Neighbors had smelled smoke and called the fire department.

Crews used a thermal camera to determine which house on the block was the source of the fire, and said high amounts of heat were seen to be concentrated around the front window, with light amounts of smoke coming from the eaves.

Firefighters forced entry into the two-story home and discovered that it was vacant and under renovation.

Inside, in the living room area, they found a smoldering mattress on the floor.

Investigators concluded that the fire had been burning for hours, but had converted to a smoldering fire due to lack of oxygen.

Firefighters used a small amount of water to put the fire out.

Damages to the home were estimated at $5,000.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.