Cause of Rock Falls fire still under investigation

ROCK FALLS – Firefighters, police, and an investigator from the state fire marshal’s office are trying to find the cause of a fire that destroyed a vacant Rock Falls house Tuesday night.

The three departments will be back at 503 Pleasant St. today as the investigation continues, Rock Falls Fire Capt. Dave Northcutt said Wednesday, adding that foul play has not been ruled out.

No one was injured. The tenants were in the process of moving out of the two-story wood-frame house, and furniture and other items were lost in the blaze.

Firefighters arrived at the house around 7:42 p.m.; it took about 4 hours to extinguish the fire, which started in the garage.

The house next door, 505 Pleasant St., sustained about $500 in heat damage, Northcutt said. He did not know how much the loss at 503 was worth.