Departments respond to area fires

It was a busy weekend for firefighters in the area after fires broke out in McLean County.

The Longbranch Again restaurant in Cooksville suffered heavy damage from a fire which broke out early Saturday and is close to a total loss, according to officials. No injuries were reported and there is no information on a possible cause.

Cooksville firefighters responded with mutual aid called from the Octavia Fire Protection District, Ellsworth Fire, Towanda Fire, Lexington Fire and LeRoy Ambulance.

Meanwhile, an early Sunday morning fire in Lexington damaged a three-car garage. Two adults, two kids and dogs safely evacuated, though one of the dogs disappeared outside before being located. No firefighters were injured but the garage contents were a complete loss. The cause of the fire is undetermined and under investigation by the State Fire Marshal.

Assisting Lexington Fire were departments from Towanda, Chenoa, Colfax, Gridley, Hudson and Cooksville.