No injuries after two Geneva houses catch fire

No one was injured in a pair of house fires that happened about eight blocks and an hour apart Monday in Geneva, firefighters said.

Crews responded to the 200 block of South Harrison Street for the first call shortly before 5 p.m. Geneva Fire Lt. Kevin Forest said a deck and siding at a two-story duplex had caught fire, and a neighbor was trying to douse the flames with a garden hose.

About an hour later, at 6:05 p.m., firefighters were called to a two-story house on the 100 block of Wall Street for a fire in an upstairs bedroom. Forest said four occupants were able to escape safely.

“Smoke detectors alerted them,” he said.

Forest said no one was home at the Harrison address when that fire broke out, prompting a neighbor to call 911 and douse the flames until firefighters arrived. Crews were on the scene for about 30 minutes. Damage was estimated at roughly $4,000.

On Wall Street, firefighters spent about five minutes putting out a fire that had spread to a dresser, bookshelf and clothing, Forest said. Investigators were still working to estimate the damage.

The causes of both fires were under investigation but did not appear suspicious in nature, officials said.