South Peoria Home Damaged by Basement Fire

Crews quickly extinguished blaze, but home suffered smoke and water damage.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 11:26am

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A South Peoria home suffered smoke and water damage after a basement fire broke out late Friday night. Peoria Fire crews responded to the scene just after 11:15 PM and were able to quickly extinguish the blaze, preventing it from spreading to the rest of the house. All five adults and two children inside were able to escape safely, and two dogs and two cats were rescued and revived at the scene. The Red Cross is providing housing assistance, and the fire department's arson dog is investigating the cause.

Why it matters

House fires can be devastating events for families, causing significant property damage and disrupting lives. This incident highlights the importance of fire safety and the quick response of local emergency services in minimizing the impact of such incidents in the community.

The details

Peoria Fire crews were dispatched to the area of Proctor and Griswold just after 11:15 PM on Friday night, finding heavy fire coming from a home. The fire was located in the basement and was brought under control within 10 minutes. While the home suffered smoke and water damage on the main level and in the basement, fire crews were able to prevent the fire from spreading further. All five adults and two children inside the home were able to escape safely, and two dogs and two cats were rescued and revived at the scene using oxygen.

  • The fire was reported just after 11:15 PM on Friday, March 28, 2026.
  • Crews had the fire under control within 10 minutes of arriving on the scene.

The players

Peoria Fire Department

The local fire department that responded to and extinguished the basement fire.

Molly

The Peoria Fire Department's arson dog, who was brought in to help investigate the cause of the fire.

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What they’re saying

“We're grateful that everyone was able to get out safely and that our crews were able to contain the fire to the basement. Our next step is to work with the arson dog to determine the cause.”

— Peoria Fire Chief

What’s next

The Peoria Fire Department's arson dog, Molly, will continue to investigate the cause of the basement fire.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of fire safety and the crucial role that local emergency services play in protecting communities from the devastating impacts of house fires. The quick response and actions of the Peoria Fire Department likely prevented further damage and potential loss of life.