By Echo Menges, NEMOnews Media Group
A vacant home in Milan burned to the ground overnight on Tuesday, February 8, 2022.
The house was located at 502 East Fifth Street at the corner of Fifth and Elm streets and owned by Douglas Rouque.
The Milan Fire Department and Milan Police Department responded to the call. According to Milan Firechief Rick Gardner, the fire is under investigation.
According to a neighbor, the house was fully engulfed by fire at 1:00 a.m. Two nearby houses were damaged during the fire, and the Stover’s Residential Care Facility was evacuated during the firefight.
“My whole kitchen was lit up orange,” said neighbor Barbara Mason. Mason said she could feel the heat from the fire outside of her house.
“A lot of the neighbors were outside,” said Mason. “No one was living at the house.”
