WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill. (WSIL) -- Investigators are looking into the cause of a fire that damaged a home in northeast Williamson County.
It happened Sunday night just after 8:40 p.m. at a home on Malone Road between Corinth and Thompsonville.
Neighbor Michael Berry was working at his home across the street when he heard a woman driving by and honking her car horn for help.
Berry came out of the garage and saw flames coming out of the home. Berry then told his daughter to call 911.
As his daughter made the call, Berry and his friend ran over to see if anyone needed help.
"We ran over there to make sure no one was home and moved a couple of dogs that were tied up out back," Berry said.
No one was home at the time, according to Williamson County Fire Protection District Chief Jeremy Norris. As Berry walked across the street to his house, the first of four fire engines arrived.
"[The firefighter] was by himself so I assisted him with getting the hose off of the truck," Berry said. "Once everybody else showed up, I just got out of the way and let them do what they do."
Norris says fire crews arrived at around 8:45 p.m., cleared the residence, and put the blaze out by 9 p.m. The State Fire Marshal cleared the scene by around 1 a.m.
Berry says the couple is staying at a hotel for the time being. The cause remains under investigation.
