An online fundraising effort has been launched for a rural McLean County farming family which lost their home in a fire early Sunday.
Fire crews from Danvers, Carlock and Allan, Dale and Bloomington townships and the MABAS Division 41 Investigation team were called to 16410 North 800 East Road about 3.5 miles west of the Yuton Elevator in Bloomington at 2:15 a.m. Sunday for a blaze which leveled the home of Brad and Jackie Dearing, owners of Dearing Country Farms.
Danvers Fire Chief Glen Rosecrans said flames were shooting through the roof at the time fire crews arrived. He said the blaze raged well into the daylight hours. Fire crews remain on scene until about 10:20 a.m.
The family of five escaped unhurt but the home was a total loss. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Rosencrans said the fire was limited to the home and one vehicle while the farm was unscathed. He estimates the damage will top $1 million. He said the home was insured.
The Parent Teacher Organization at Thomas Metcalf School in Normal launched a GoFundMe page to assist the Dearing family with immediate needs. Donors surpassed the $5,000 target within hours.
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