SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A 38-year-old Springfield man has been arrested and given multiple charges for a Sunday night explosion and blaze in the 2100 block of South 12th Street.
38-year-old Christopher Jackson, of Springfield, has been charged with causing a catastrophe, aggravated arson, residential arson, and criminal damage to property over $10,000.
In a news release, Springfield Police and Fire say there was “repeated contact with this property and its occupant, including numerous responses over the past six months related to illegal burning. Citations were issued for violations observed during those responses; however, prior to this incident, those contacts had not resulted in criminal charges”.
Police and Fire responded to the call Sunday night around 9:10 for a report of a structure fire. They discovered a detached garage had been completely engulfed in flames.
Two police officers, a firefighter, and a civilian were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The explosion also damaged several nearby structures.
The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Springfield Fire Department at 217-789-2170 or Sangamon/Menard County Crimestoppers at 217-788-8427.
