Springfield firefighters battle multiple blazes Monday

Springfield firefighters battled flames at two Monday morning house fires on the south side of the city, the second one in the 700 block of Tibbetts Avenue with some crews coming from the scene of another one not far from Tibbetts.

Firefighters from the Springfield Fire Rescue Division went into defensive mode soon after arrival on the scene at 701 Tibbetts about 8:50 a.m. The house reportedly was vacant, and a neighbor said the resident had died late last year.

>> PHOTOS: Springfield firefighters battle two morning blazes

Fire Captain Matthew Porteus, who was acting battalion chief Monday, said the 1.5-story, Cape Cod-style house was fully involved when crews arrived.

“Crews were able to put a couple handlines and service (the fire) pretty quick... We were able to get everything knocked down,” he said.

The fire was under control about 9:30 a.m.

Crews also called for mutual aid from Springfield Twp., which provided on-scene EMS for the firefighters and another fire engine on standby in case another call came in, Porteus said.

Porteus said three of the units at the Tibbetts fire were just leaving the scene of a previous house fire on Springfield’s south side.

Earlier, a Monday morning house fire shut down streets around the intersection of Grand and Clifton avenues.

The Grand Avenue house reportedly also was a vacant structure.

Firefighters arrived about 7:20 a.m. to find the house fully engulfed in flames.

A fire official at that scene said firefighters also had been called to multiple shed or vehicle fires in the area earlier.

It’s unknown if the house fires are connected, and both are under investigation.