Galesburg fire fighters were forced to use all their resources to battle the flames at two different fires overnight.
The first happened at a business on the 1200 block of Log City Trail. Back up crews were called in to help control the fire.
Then crews had to rush to a home on the 300 block of North Cherry Street.
A person inside the home discovered the fire in the attic, but crews were able to get it under control.
Today investigators are still trying to find the cause of both. They tell TV6 there is extensive damage to the business; the roof is caving in and everything inside is destroyed, including a fleet of brand new vans.
No injuries were reported at either fire, but the owner of the building says it is a total loss.
"It kind of gives you a sad deal but things do happen in life and you just got to go on," Owner Clarence Southard says.
The business inside, ‘Spee Dee Delivery' is celebrating its 34th anniversary Tuesday.
Galesburg firefighters say they've already responded to more fires this year than last.
‘Spee Dee Delivery' marks the 4th large structure fire in Galesburg since April. Firefighters tell TV6 they got this one under control within an hour but with so many big fires, their resources are being stretched to the limits.
"It's a lot of property damage," Galesburg Fire Marshal Dan Foley says.
So far, the damage in this year's fires has already topped $1.1 million, equal to all the fires in 2011.
"We had investigated as many fires to date this year as we had all of last year, which is sad because last year was one of our lowest cost damage from fires," Foley says.
Authorities say they can't pinpoint the reason why there are more fires.
"Of course we have to look at arson as being economic bad times, people try to claim insurance money," Foley says, "But we haven't had any clear indication on any of these fires."
He says common theme in a lot of this year's fires is having no working smoke detectors, fire alarms, or sprinkler systems.
"The problem here is we didn't find out until it broke out through the roofs and through the windows," Foley says.
Homes are required to have a working smoke detector on every floor, including the basement, and newer commercial buildings are now required to get a sprinkler system. However, older structures like the one ‘Spee Dee Delivery' was in are grandfathered in and may not have one, even though they can really make a difference.
"We had a building like this a few years back, they came to work, and the fire was out, they didn't even realize there was a fire, and it was just moderate damage," Foley says.
The building owner tells TV6 ‘Spee Dee Delivery' is moving to another building just a few miles south of town and will be back in business soon.
