Fire guts Monmouth house

Last evening, around 9 o'clock, the sirens went off downtown, signalling the need for volunteer firefighters, and that there was a call for assistance from neighboring municipalities' fire departments.

By the time the evening ended, I am informed, we had the help of the Yorkwood district (Little York and Kirkwood), the Roseville, and the Alexis FD all to help put out a house fire in northwest Monmouth, at 890 W. Boston Ave.

I approached gradually from the east, thinking the worst as I saw this, from a couple of blocks away

But as I drew up the nearer street (North "G" Street) I realized that the glow was primarily from the emergency vehicles.



It was damnedly cold (6º F, with a strong wind bringing the wind chill down to -15 or -20º), but I climbed out of my car and walked west up the alley which runs mid-block, to find a couple of folks leaning against the fence -- they said the family who owns the house were staying next door while the house was being rewired...
I wonder who was doing the electrical work? Nobody knew, at that time (or today, either, as I asked around. There may be some serious issues, if it's any of the contractors I've seen around here).

Anyway, I took a few more pics



then made my way away from the frigid scene as the Firefighters got the blaze under control, just a little while later.

I returned to the scene at roughly 8 this morning -- it was still accursedly cold out there, at 0ºF and a wind chill putting perceived temp around -15 -- to get these images:





I'm told that this house used to be owned by a barber named Johnson, who, at one time, rented a room to Richard Speck. Or else, he rented to Speck's brother. There was a debate among the gentlemen at the auction, this morning.

At any rate, the "official" word from those who listen to the police scanners is, the house is a total loss, everybody is fine.

The flag is still there. Battered, yet not beaten.