Camp Jackson volunteer firefighters worked all night extinguishing a fire in a vacant home early Wednesday morning, then returned to their fire trucks less than 12 hours later to battle another fire at a vacant home.
On Wednesday, Camp Jackson Fire Chief Chris Davis called both fires suspicious and called the Illinois State Fire Marshal to investigate.
Davis and his firefighters have responded to three suspicious in the last week and suspects they may be linked to at least 20 suspicious fires reported at vacant homes in Centreville, Alorton and Cahokia since the beginning of the year.
The department received a call at 3 a.m. on Wednesday about a home engulfed in flames at 2420 Donna Drive near Cahokia.
At 1 p.m. on Wednesday, the department went to another call at 3327 Booker T. Washington Ave. near Millstadt. When firefighters arrived, the vacant mobile home was destroyed.
Last week, fire destroyed a vacant home on Cottonbelt Avenue in Centreville, Davis said.
"We've been running like crazy on mutual aid calls to help other departments," Davis said.
With only 20 volunteers, the fires strained the resources of the Camp Jackson Fire Department.
"We are an all-volunteer fire department. These guys have regular jobs, too," Davis said. "It puts a very big strain on us. Most of the guys have been up all night and went out to fight the new fire."
Davis wouldn't say when he expected to hear about the Illinois State Fire Marshal's investigation, but hopes the fires slow down soon.
"Anytime you go out to a fire, you put your safety in jeopardy," Davis said. "It's especially frustrating if the fires are the result of an arson."
