Officials say heater in garage caused fire in Philo
PHILO – A fire at an attached garage of a vacant house in Philo on Tuesday morning caused an estimated $60,000 damage, according to Champaign County sheriff's Sgt. Keith Cunningham.
Philo firefighters responded to the fire at 502 S. Garfield in Philo about 9:40 a.m. Tuesday, he said.
Cunningham said a neighbor reported that flames and smoke could be seen coming from a garage attached to the home. The house had been remodeled and was vacant, he said. The name of the owner was not yet known.
A preliminary investigation showed that the fire apparently was caused by a heater in the garage, but the investigation by the sheriff's office and Philo firefighters is continuing, he said. The fire is not considered suspicious.
"The fire started in the garage with a heater on the wall," Cunningham said. "There was a lot of smoke damage to the house."
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