06/20/2026
On the morning of June 19, 2026, Streator Police and Streator Fire were dispatched to a report of a structure fire at 1401 N. Otter Creek St. Initial calls stated a shed and possibly a garage were on fire. Both police and fire units were dispatched at 12:37am. The first police units arrived on scene at 12:41am. Police officers found a shed and garage/business office fully involved in fire. Streator Fire units arrived shortly after and worked to contain the blaze. Streator Police Officers provided a perimeter to the affected area. While enroute to the fire on Otter Creek, a Streator Fire unit witnessed smoke coming from the rear of the building at 601 E. Hickory Street. Further investigation showed a small fire burning the siding in the rear of the building. The fire was extinguished by Streator Engine 1 about 15 minutes after discovery. Shortly after the Hickory fire was extinguished, a passerby noticed smoke near another building nearby at 607 N. Sterling Street. Streator Fire Engine 1 responded and found the beginnings of a fire near the shed in the rear of the building. This fire was quickly extinguished. With the discovery of the third fire and suspicions of another fire possible, Streator Police requested assistance from nearby agencies to canvass areas and look for possible person(s) of interest. An Investigator from the Streator Police Department reported to each location to process the scenes and collect evidence. The Illinois State Fire Marshal was also involved.
Later that day at 3:28pm, another fire was reported at 201 N. Vermillion. A shed behind a church building was found fully engulfed in fire. The fire was extinguished in about 10 minutes. Streator officers responded to assist with this investigation and began searching the immediate area for possible suspects. Officers were provided a description of a possible suspect via an officer who was reviewing nearby surveillance footage. Shortly later an officer located a male subject matching the description provided and made contact in the 600 block of North Everett Street. The male was detained for questioning.
Pursuant to this investigation, Christopher S. Hall, age 33, has preliminarily been charged with one count of aggravated arson, and one count of arson. Further possible charges will
be reviewed by the LaSalle County States Attorney's Office. Hall was transported to the LaSalle County Jail where he will be held pending a detention hearing.
Several agencies assisted the City of Streator over the two days including the LaSalle County States Attorney's Office, Illinois State Police, LaSalle County Sheriffs Office, Livingston County Sheriffs Office, Pontiac Police Department, the Illinois State Fire Marshal along with the Ottawa, Grand Ridge, and Reading Fire Departments.
The Streator Police Department would like to remind everyone that those listed as "arrested" are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
