Residential fire Tuesday in Ottawa was accidentally started by child, firefighters say

Ottawa firefighters said a Tuesday afternoon fire at 1617 Sycamore St. was an accident. No injuries were reported.

In a news release, the Ottawa Fire Department said firefighters arrived at the scene at 5:01 p.m. and found a single-story residence with smoke coming out of the front door and smoke and flames coming from a window on the south side.

The first arriving engine company performed an offensive attack on the fire through the side door and conducted a primary search for possible victims. No victims were found. Bystanders confirmed that all residents were out or accounted for.

By 5:06 p.m., the fire was under control, but firefighters continued with salvage, overhaul and investigative operations. Minutes later, Ottawa Central Dispatch notified fire command of a multivehicle crash on Route 71. Mutual aid was initiated to help at both scenes.

After obtaining statements from the residence’s occupants, along with preliminary observations by Ottawa police and Ottawa fire, it was determined that the cause of the fire appeared to be accidental. As a result of the investigative efforts of the Ottawa Police Department and Ottawa Fire Department, a child admitted to accidentally starting the fire.

The Ottawa Fire Department received support from several agencies, including the Ottawa Police Department, Ottawa Central Dispatch, the Wallace Fire Department, the Marseilles Fire Department, Marseilles EMS, the Naplate Fire Department, the Grand Ridge Fire Department and the Utica Fire Department.