Firefighters respond to report of teen trapped in basement of burning home

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford firefighters rushed to the scene of a house fire on Benton Street early Thursday morning on reports that a 16-year-old boy was trapped in the basement.

According to the Rockford Fire Department, the call came in around 12:30 a.m. that a house was on fire in the 1300 block of Benton Street.

Heavy fire was coming from an exterior door of the home when firefighters arrived.

A woman at the home said her son was missing and possibly trapped in the basement of the home.

Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control within 10 minutes and searched the home, but found no one inside.

Officials said it was later discovered that the teen was not home at the time of the fire.

The tenant told authorities that she had smelled smoke and was able to escape with two small children.

A cat was rescued from the residence.

The damage was estimated at $60,000.