CARTERVILLE, Ill. (AP) - More than a dozen fire crews from across southern Illinois joined Carterville firefighters in battling a massive fire that destroyed a business that had served the city for more than 40 years.
WSIU Radio reports that the fire broke out Monday evening and destroyed Corbell Telephone and Electronics. There's no word yet on what caused the blaze. No injuries were reported.
Residents gathered near Carterville's historic downtown for several hours, watching as the fire burned through one building and threatened others.
Mayor Bill Mausey says older buildings make these fires harder to fight because the timbers provide kindling for the blaze.
The mayor says the fire is unfortunate but he's confident the community will recover and the city will do what it can to help.
