Saturday fire destroys Du Quoin house while owner away

Firefighters may never know the cause of a 6 a.m. Saturday morning fire on Sweet Gum Road south of the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. Sweet Gum Road runs north and south between Bob Green Drive and Rt. 14.

The home belonged to the Robert "Bobby" Brock family, which was out of the area when the fire destroyed the house. Years ago the home was owned by Harold and Phyllis Overton.

Fire department spokesman Rick Loyd said when firemen arrived the fire had already climbed from the north side of the first floor in the kitchen and dining room area up to the second story.

Firemen fought the fire from the north side and from the front at the outset. As they knocked down flames on the first floor they moved to the second story.

The home's mansard-style roof was both a hindrance and a help. A mansard roof is a four-sided gambrel-style hip roof. There was not much room to work in the attic, but the roof style provided openings.

Harold Emling, a homeowner to the south, called the fire department. Tamaroa firefighter manned the station with mutual aid from Christopher, Dowell, Sesser and Coello fire departments.

Loyd said water availability was an issue at the outset. No one was injured in fighting the fast-moving and complicated fire.