Examination room chair fire extinguished by security guard

CHAMPAIGN – An electrical short in an exam room chair caused a small fire at Christie Clinic, 101 W. University Ave., C, early this morning.

Champaign fire department spokeswoman Dena Schumacher said firefighters were sent to the clinic at 5:33 a.m. today. Although the dispatch call went out as a working fire, investigation showed the fire was limited to the examination chair and it had already been put out by a Christie security guard with an extinguisher by the time firefighters arrived, she said.

The security guard was in the basement and noticed an odor of smoke, Schumacher said.

The motorized examination chair was in an exam room in the ophthalmology department in the west end of the first floor, she said.

"He found it, hit it with an extinguisher and put it out," Schumacher said.

The security guard was one of the Christie staff who have received training by Champaign firefighters on use of fire extinguishers, she said. Other businesses interested in training can call Schumacher at 403-7212.

AP Video

Also on this date

• Champaign man faces child pornography charges
• Overpass plan in Tolono includes pedestrian path
• Mahomet commission recommends zoning change
• Suspect in death of woman from Loda pleads innocent
• Rantoul man awaiting sentencing arrested again
• Area teenager accused in burglaries
• Support voiced for school sales tax ballot try
• Order of protection sought against Arnette children's aunt
• Vintage Vinyl sale set for annual spin
• Amish rub shoulders with 'English' at Otto Center in Arthur
• Car stolen from woman in Urbana
• Philo rec center updates may include plumbing, PA system
• Journalist Quindlen touts female strides
• Savoy board OKs demolition of vacant house
• Big effort planned to enforce seat-belt law
• Energy Department defends power-plant plan
• Coal-gasification expert criticizes energy plans
• Cops, Dunkin' Donuts team up to raise funds
• Bus to serve as cross-county job transport
• U.S. 136 road work to take weeks
• Judge convicts Clark on weapons charge
• Trash pile catches fire; no one injured
• Danville Walgreen's tests drug distribution in a crisis
• Contract to repair Vermilion County's GIS approved
• Obituaries