Bigfoot, Il.---A family of five is homeless after a fire destroyed their home on the state line near U.S. Highway 14 late Friday afternoon.
The only family member who was home at the time, a man in his mid 20's, suffered smoke inhalation and minor burns on his hands and face. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.
According to Harvard Fire Dept. Battalion Chief Bryan Pierce, the man told fire investigators that he'd been sleeping at the time and that his dogs woke him up. The victim attributed the fire to a candle. The man, and his dogs, were able to get out without assistance.
Bigfoot is an unincorporated community near Harvard.
WGTD News Walworth County Correspondent Jim McClure stumbled onto the fire as he was driving in the area. He estimated that he was on scene some 10 minutes before the first fire truck arrived.
Pierce confirms that even under the best of circumstances it's a haul for firefighters from the nearest Harvard station--about 7 minutes away--to get to the neighborhood where the fire took place.
By the time the first firefighters arrived, Pierce says, flames were shooting from the two-story home.
Fire investigators could not confirm the cause of the fire because of the extent of the damage.
The Red Cross is helping the family.
-0-