PARIS, Ill. (WCIA) — A home in Paris was saved on Thursday after a tree fire threatened to spread to the structure.

The fire happened on Marshall Street at approximately 10:44 a.m. Zack Janis, Paris Fire Chief, wrote on Facebook that as firefighters responded, dispatch warned that the fire had gotten close enough to the home that its siding started to melt.

“Upon arrival, I observed a large dead tree located to the rear of the residence actively burning,” Janis said. “I also observed Sergeant Ray of the Paris Police Department utilizing a garden hose to cool the exterior siding and help prevent further fire extension until fire crews could deploy a hose line.”

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Firefighters were able to cool the affected siding once they extended that hose line, and a check of the home with thermal imaging cameras found no fire in the roofline, exterior walls and interior of the home.

Turning his attention to the tree, Janis said he recognized the potential for deep-seated fire to remain in the tree and contacted the Paris Street Department for assistance.

“Rick Scott immediately responded and brought a backhoe to the scene,” Janis said. “Using the equipment, he was able to safely bring the tree to the ground and separate it into multiple sections, allowing firefighters to fully extinguish and overhaul the remaining burning material. Once the tree was dismantled, crews thoroughly soaked all affected areas and conducted a final inspection to ensure complete extinguishment.”

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Janis applauded the cooperation between the city’s departments in fighting this fire, saying incidents like this highlight the importance.

“I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Rick Scott and the Paris Street Department, as well as Sergeant Ray and Officer Quinn of the Paris Police Department, for their assistance and professionalism,” he said. “While Rick may consider his actions routine, his willingness to immediately respond and provide equipment significantly reduced the amount of time firefighters would have otherwise spent monitoring and overhauling the fire. More importantly, it helped ensure the fire was completely extinguished and reduced the likelihood of crews having to return later for rekindles.”

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