02/09/2026
Press Release
Pinckneyville Rural Fire Protection District
110 South Walnut Street
Pinckneyville IL 62274
Phone (618) 357-2281
Fire Chief: Curtis Miller
STRUCTURE FIRE
4217 IL-127 Pinckneyville, IL
02-03-26
PFD was dispatched to the area of IL-127 for a reported fully engulfed structure fire at 4:32PM. After being dispatched and PV-1 went enroute in PV-94, Nashville Fire, Tamaroa Fire and Coulterville Fire were requested for M/A, needing engines, tankers and manpower. While crews were about to go enroute, Perry County Deputies arrived, the updated address was provided and confirmed all occupants were out of the house. Engine PV-48 went enroute with a crew of three, Engine PV-49 with a crew of one and Tanker PV-51 with a crew of one.
Units arrived on scene to find a fully engulfed attached garage with fire extension going into the residence on division two Bravo side. A 1 ¾” cross-lay was deployed from the driver’s side of PV-48 to the alpha side where the interior attack crew made entry, working their way to division two to stop further extension. A second 1 ¾” cross-lay was deployed from the passenger side of PV-48 and hooked up to a discharge on the driver’s side for more reach and stretched to the Bravo/Charlie corner to start exterior attack on the garage and up to division two. A car was noted to be fully engulfed still in the garage. After water supply was established to PV-48 from PV-49, a 1 ¾” cross-lay was deployed from the driver’s side of PV-49 and stretched to the alpha side to assist with exterior operations on the garage and division two. PV-51 arrived and established a fold-a-tank for water shuttle.
Interior fire attack crews stretched their line to division two and were unable to find extension due to heavy smoke conditions. Other members went up to assist the initial crew with pulling ceiling to search for extension. Crews found fire running in the attack space and extensive work was conducted on pulling ceiling and opening walls on the Charlie side interior on division two.
Nashville Fire arrived and began roof operations, cutting inspection holes and searching for extension from the roof at the peak, side Charlie. Coulterville Fire and Tamaroa fire arrived and assisted with interior operations and water supply/shuttle. DuQuoin Fire was then requested for COQ to Pinckneyville. Due to staffing issues, DQFD was only able to standby at their station 1. Ameren and city utilities was requested to the scene. Family stated they had a cat inside the structure still, members searched and found the cat alive but struggling in the basement and brought it out to the on-scene EMS unit to give it oxygen therapy. Cat was released to the family following.
After crews believed the extension had stopped, a positive pressure fan was placed in the door on the alpha side to start pushing smoke out of the structure, windows/doors were opened to assist. Following, smoke was seen coming from the ridge cap line of the roof and more fire was seen from the roof operations crew from Nashville Fire, pushing towards the delta side. The positive pressure fan was shut down and removed. Crews moved to the delta side on division two interior and started pulling more ceiling and opening walls to find the flare up. Other members stayed on the exterior and were working on the garage and its contents that were still on fire. After a few hours, the fire was under control. Crews began to downgrade equipment, and the IC started to release M/A departments. Crews then began mop up operations.
Approx 2 hours after crews returned to quarters, an additional page out was made for a rekindle at 10:39 PM. Tamaroa and Nashville fire were requested M/A again. PV-94, PV-49, PV-48 and PV-75 responded. PV-1 arrived to find a small fire on division two and disregarded all M/A departments. Crews were able to get into the tight area to remove the smoldering insulation. A second fire was found starting back inside the dining room on the Bravo/Charlie interior on division one. Crews were able to extinguish and remove the smoldering insulation. All units were then able to clear and return to quarters. Crew were on scene in total of about 5 hours. In total about 10,000 gallons of water were used on this fire. The cause of the fire has been deemed undetermined at this time.
We would like to thank all our mutual aid partners, bystanders that stopped and gave us a hand, and most importantly the family of the effected structure. Even through a great tragedy of their own this family was instrumental in bringing this fire under control. We are a small town and in times like these the importance of helping becomes magnified. I can honestly say in my near 20 years of the fire service. This community has never not stepped up and helped when needed.
