Decatur Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 405 West William Street

     At approximately 3:30 a.m. on April 20, the Decatur Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 405 West William Street. Initial units arrived on scene in the following order: Engine 1, Battalion Chief, Truck 1, and Engine 6.
Upon arrival, Engine 1 reported heavy fire actively venting through the roof of the structure. Crews quickly deployed a handline through the main entrance and advanced to the second floor, encountering light smoke conditions and a small amount of fire. Firefighters then continued to the third floor, where they located a significant body of fire.
Due to the size of the structure and the volume of fire, truck companies were strategically positioned for aerial operations. Additional crews arrived to establish a water supply, deploy additional hose lines, conduct primary searches for potential occupants, and protect nearby exposures. Notably, crews successfully prevented fire extension to the adjacent historic Oglesby Mansion, which sustained no damage.
As fire conditions intensified and became unstable, the incident was upgraded to a second alarm, bringing additional resources to the scene. For firefighter safety, all personnel were ordered to evacuate the structure. Crews then transitioned to defensive operations, utilizing aerial master streams to bring the bulk of the fire under control.
Once conditions improved, firefighters re-entered the structure to complete extinguishment. Crews remained on scene for several hours conducting overhaul operations to ensure the fire was fully extinguished and no hidden fire remained.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.