Massive Ill. blaze tears through former department store

Photo by Norm Winick

In the early morning hours of Jan. 23, a fire erupted at the former O.T. Johnson’s department store in Galesburg, Ill. The Galesburg Fire Department called for mutual aid from the Knoxville, Abingdon and Monmouth fire departments. The department store and an attached four-story warehouse were reduced to rubble. Firefighters remained on scene for more than 48 hours.