By Ariel Cheung
Galva News
ONEIDA, Ill. — An Oneida woman’s birthday turned tragic Jan. 15 when her Knox Street house caught on fire.
Vicki Behringer, who turned 56, arrived home around 3:30 p.m. Jan. 15 and soon noticed a smoky smell in her living room. Believing it came from her space heater, she went to check the heater in her bathroom, but couldn’t find anything wrong with it.
However, when she returned to the living room, her coat rack had caught fire.
Behringer ran to the kitchen to fill a pitcher with water, but by the time she returned, the entire wall was on fire.
“I realized I just couldn’t fight that,”
Behringer said. “So I grabbed my purse and my phone and got out the front door.”
Personnel from the Victoria and AltonaOneida-Wataga fire departments responded to the scene to extinguish the flames, which Behringer said likely came from an extension cord plugged into an outlet behind the coat rack.
The cause of was unknown at press time.
Nearly two hours later, firefighters were evaluating the smoke damage, which Behringer said completely ruined the house.
“There’s nothing left,” she said. “Everything is gone. The house is still standing, but I have nothing.”
Behringer has been living in the house at 227 N. Knox St. for more than 25 years and had just finished paying off the loan two or three years ago, she said.
The American Red Cross is providing assistance to Behringer following the incident. To make a donation, call (309) 344-1611. The organization is also seeking donations of extra-large women’s shirts, large men’s coats, size 10 men’s shoes and size 20 women’s jeans to assist Behringer.
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