Wednesday morning fires in duplex and Kalin's Cafe

What began as a Wednesday morning stovetop fire in one of two duplex apartments on South Leonard Street spread enough to heavily damage the kitchen and caused smoke and heat damage throughout the apartment.

Du Quoin firemen were called to 23 1/2 South Leonard shortly after 7:30 a.m. The duplex is on the city's east side just south of the Gospel Assembly Church.

Occupant John Morris told firemen he had turned on the burner to make breakfast and that grease in a skillet caught fire.

He tried to extinguish the fire by throwing a towel over the flames. The towel caught on fire and the flames spread.

Du Quoin firefighters entered the apartment through the rear door, knocked down the fire quickly, then made sure that the fire had not gotten up into attic by pulling down some aluminum eave soffiting on the back of the building.

After the fire Du Quoin Fire Chief Robert Shaw reminded property owners to never use a combustible material to try and put out a fire.

He said on a stovetop fire the best first response is to try and smother the flame with a metal lid.

Shaw said Morris received second degree burns to his hands and wrists. He was examined and treated by medics with the Pinckneyville Ambulance Service, but refused further assistance and was not taken to the hospital.

Chief Shaw said he knows that Morris, his wife, at least one child, a dog and a cat were all occupying the apartment when the fire broke out.

The dog was quickly rescued and was seen sitting in the family's van nearby. Firefighter David Durkota found the cat and turned it over to firefighter Health Melton who carefully put it in the arms of the owner.

The owners of the duplex are listed as Jerry Kelly and Syco , Inc. of 109 South Walnut Street in Pinckneyville.

The fire department puts the estimated building damage at $30,000 and the estimated contents loss at $20,000.

At 6:30 a.m. firefighters were called to Kalin's Restaurant in downtown Du Quoin to extinguish a fire in and around a commercial oven in the kitchen. Firemen say grease buildup was to blame.

The restaurant was successfully evacuated when the fire broke out. Firemen used hand extinguishers to put out the fire and ventilation equipment in the kitchen was used to extricate smoke from the kitchen and an adjacent room.

No one was injured. The restaurant remained closed during the day. Firemen did not have an estimate on the damage or loss.