Two dozen apartments were evacuated when a fire started in Central Peoria on Wednesday afternoon.
The Peoria Fire Department was called to Westporte Apartments at about 2:45 p.m. When firefighters arrived at 2805 W. Larchmont Lane, they found heavy black smoke spilling out of the sliding door in the rear of a second-floor apartment, Battalion Chief Jim Bachman said.
Buildings C and D were evacuated while firefighters brought the blaze under control.
They had difficulty locating the fire, with zero visibility because of the smoke and high temperatures, Bachman said.
Once located, the fire was under control within six minutes of their arrival. It was contained to a single room — the living room and dining room area — and didn’t reach the inside of the walls, Bachman said.