PEORIA, Ill. — Nearly two dozen residents have been displaced following a fire Thursday afternoon in downtown Peoria’s New Hope Apartments.
Fire Battalion Chief Ryan Calhoun said fire broke out in the building at 301 NE Jefferson Avenue around 3 p.m. in an elevator shaft.
As they arrived, fire crews saw residents exiting the apartment building and could hear a fire alarm sounding. Crews were sent in to investigate a possible fire on the fourth floor.
Calhoun said firefighters learned there had been a small fire near the fourth floor elevator, and sprinklers nearby put out the fire before the fire department’s arrival.
Additional crews were called in to help shut off the sprinkler system and cutting power to the elevator. There was also a coordinated effort to initially evacuate residents from the building, and shelter in place those not effected by the fire.
A Peoria Fire Investigator was brought in to determine the cause of the fire, which was ruled arson.
About 22 New Hope residents were displaced by the fire due to water damage by the sprinkler system.
Total damage is estimated at $170,000.
No injuries were reported.
