Family and feline uninjured after basement fire

MENDOTA – A family and their feline are safe after a house fire Wednesday night in Mendota. According to Paramedic and Fire Fighter Justin Setchell, they and the Troy Grove Fire Department were called just before midnight to the 300 block of U.S 34 for a basement fire. Authorities say the fire was contained to the basement and a cat rescue was made from fire fighter Mary Estell, who Setchell claims to be a cat whisperer. While the incident remains an investigation, fire fighters believe the cause may have stemmed from a heat lamp on nesting chicks. The chicks did not survive.