Rochelle Fire Responds To Downtown Apartment Smoke Thursday

ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Fire Department responded just after 2 p.m. Thursday to a report of smoke in a second story apartment in the 400 block of Lincoln Highway. A resident ran to the nearby fire station to report her apartment was on fire. Crews found a light haze caused by an electrical short in a refrigerator in the multi-apartment building. The downtown location prompted a higher alarm response with assistance from Hillcrest and Flagg Center. Firefighters unplugged and removed the appliance. According to Rochelle Fire Chief Dave Sawlsville, no injuries were reported.  In an unrelated call around 5 p.m., crews were called to another report of smoke in a residence in the 100 block of School Ave that was determined to be just haze from a neighbor cooking food.