Harmon family loses new home to fire: Vehicles, belongings completely destroyed
HARMON – Just 2 weeks after moving in, a family of four was burned out of its new home.
A fire burned for nearly 5 hours early Sunday at 1032 Harmon Road, said Harmon Chief D.J. Sheridan. It took 6 area fire departments to put out the blaze, which burned from 3 a.m. to nearly 8 a.m. Sunday.
Mike and Debra Toth, and their two school-age sons, were treated and released for smoke inhalation at KSB Hospital in Dixon the night of the fire, Sheridan said.
Early indications are that the house’s fuel-oil furnace malfunctioned, Sheridan said, adding that the state fire marshal is conducting an investigation.
“There’s absolutely nothing left,” Sheridan said of the house. “There was just a big ball of orange when we pulled on scene.”
The house was so far gone that fire officials decided to let it burn and focus on containing it to prevent it from spreading.
American Red Cross has placed the Toth family in an area hotel and is providing clothing and food, said Sharon Kersten, director of the Lee County Red Cross.
A family car, motorcycle and most of their belongings were destroyed.
“They didn’t have anything but the shirts on their backs,” Sheridan said. “It’s really sad.”
Sterling, Rock Falls, Dixon Rural, Amboy and Walnut fire department assisted at the scene.
