Boil order issued for parts of Oswego after large fire, water main break

OSWEGO, Ill. - A boil order has been issued for parts of Oswego after a water main break and a large fire erupted in the suburb on Wednesday.

According to Oswego village officials, a water main break as well as a large fire were reported in the old downtown area, which caused many residents to experience low water pressure.

Firefighters from the Oswego Fire Protection District were dispatched at 10:23 a.m. to 407 Main street to the Pillars home. It was built in 1902 and is known for the numerous architectural pillars on the property.

"I was looking out my kitchen window and I saw flames and I thought maybe it was just a neighbor burning something or whatever, but when the flames shot so high I knew it was something serious," said neighbor Jan Alexander.

The 5-bedroom home sits on two acres, and it is now considered to be a total loss.

"We got here and we saw the whole right side of the house was involved in fire," said the Deputy Chief of the Oswego Fire Protection District, Joshua Flanders.

Due to pressure issues, a boil order is in effect until Friday morning for the area from Main Street south to Route 71, Wilson Place on the north and Forest Avenue on the east.

Nearly 100 households were effected by the water main break, according to officials.

"When the pressure drops in the mains, there’s a potential for contamination with contaminants getting sucked into the water main just because we are at lower pressure," said Jennifer Hughes, the Oswego Public Works Director, who adds that some of these older mains were scheduled to be replaced next summer.

The Oswego Public Works team is going door to door to alert residents and businesses about the ongoing issues.

Water pressure has since been restored to all the homes affected, but the boil order will be in effect until Friday morning.