Tuesday, October 10th, 2017
Cause of fire that destroyed abandoned property unknown
Mendon
By Tom Stankard
UNION TOWNSHIP - The cause of a Saturday morning fire at an abandoned property near Mendon was still listed as undetermined this morning.
Mendon Fire Chief Daryl Etgen this morning said he doesn't believe the blaze had been intentionally started. He noted the state fire marshal has not been called to investigate.
Mendon firefighters responded to the call in the 6900 block of Shelly Road at about 3:30 a.m. with five trucks and 20 firefighters and received aid from Rockford firefighters. Etgen said the property was already a complete loss upon arrival.
The house, which belonged to William Fent, had been stripped out and was previously slated for demolition, Etgen noted.
"It had no windows or doors and the wires and plumbing had been taken out."
Firefighters extinguished the flames at about 4 a.m., but ash and other tinder blew around and rekindled the flames, Etgen said. Firefighters returned to the scene at roughly 4:30 a.m. They eventually extinguished the embers and returned to the station at about 6 a.m.
