Fire, smoke damage Vandalia home, vehicles

UPDATE @ 10:08 p.m.: Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a fire that caused heavy damage to an attached garage and two vehicles in it at a home on Citadel Drive, Vandalia fire Capt. Duane Stitzel said.

The residents were able to escape the flames, which reached the attic above the garage but not the house, Stitzel said. They will have to find lodging elsewhere tonight because of the heavy smoke that fouled the residential part of the house, he said.

Crews arrived to find heavy flames coming from the front part of the house, through the garage, Stitzel said.

Because the investigation is in its early stages, Stitzel said he could not yet estimate the dollar damage to the home and garage, the contents and the vehicles in the garage.

FIRST REPORT

Crews are on the scene of a house fire in the 300 block of Citadel Drive.

There is heavy fire in the garage area of the home and crews are dealing with more flames in the attic.

The fire was reported sometime around 8:40 p.m. There are no reports of any injuries.

We have a crew on the way. We will update this developing report as we get information.