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    One neighborhood, five fires: Rantoul Fire Department investigates possible connection

    By Jared ThomasHeather Robinson,

    2 days ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=197n9x_0uxlDpF300

    RANTOUL, Ill. (WCIA) — Officials are investigating after a fire broke out in the same Rantoul neighborhood where four other trailer fires happened earlier this year.

    On Feb. 8, the trailer at 13 Mahoning Dr. was completely destroyed after catching fire , killing two cats and leaving the owner displaced. The trailer next door, 14 Mahoning Dr., was also damaged enough that the person living there was displaced.

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    Just a few weeks later on Feb. 26, another fire broke out at 14 Mahoning Dr . Since there was still no one living there at the time, no one was hurt and the trailer wasn’t connected to utilities. Firefighters fought the flames for two-and-a-half hours.

    The next morning, another fire broke out in the same trailer, causing firefighters to battle those flames for another hour and 40 minutes.

    On March 19, the fourth fire happened , this time at 12 Mahoning Dr. The call was closed just 35 minutes after it was received. At this time, the Rantoul Fire Department told WCIA that they, along with the Illinois State Fire Marshal, were investigating a possible connection between all four fires, but they had not yet determined whether any of them were connected.

    Now, more than six months after the first fire, officials are adding a fifth to the investigation.

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    On Thursday, Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to 17 Mahoning Dr. where they found a vacant home ablaze.

    Rantoul Fire Chief Chad Smith told WCIA the fire spread to about 30% of the home. Since the home was vacant, no one was hurt. No utilities were hooked up in the home, either. Rantoul firefighters worked with the Gifford and Thomasboro Fire Departments, as well as Rantoul Police and AMT.

    Smith said the fire was cleared by around 10 p.m., and the Rantoul Fire Department and State Fire Marshal are continuing to investigate how it happened, as well as whether it is possibly related to the neighborhood’s fires earlier this year.

    Although, neighbors aren’t cooperating, Smith said, and not giving much information on what they might’ve seen. He said he doesn’t believe it is an arsonist, but a “fire bug” — or, someone who is interested in fires, but isn’t trying to intentionally hurt anyone.

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    Maureen Hanf just moved to the area in May. These reoccurring fires are a concern for her and her two kids.

    “My youngest one can’t talk very well at all and they tend to zone out and get in their own world. So, by the time that a fire would happen, they might not respond as quickly as a regular person would,” she said. “So, that’s kind of the concern there. They don’t understand fire as well as an average person might.”

    She said she still hasn’t seen a notice from management. WCIA also reached out to the management company but has yet to hear back.

    Hanf also said she’ll be talking with her children about fire safety in case another one breaks out.

    Chief Smith said if they can get more answers from the community, they can help even more. That might mean putting on some educational program about fires.

    Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.

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