FRANKLIN COUNTY - Royalton Police Chief Tim Sanders and his wife escaped a fire at their home just before 2:30 a.m. Friday with no injuries, according to West Frankfort Fire Chief Wes Taylor.

Sanders was awoken by a fire alarm and he and his wife were forced to crawl out of a ground-level window to avoid the flames. He alerted 911 to the fire with his cell phone and West Frankfort Firefighters aided by Zeigler crews arrived on scene about 2:30 a.m., Taylor said.

Taylor said the flames were already shooting through the roof of the home, located on Bryant Road near Cambon Lake, when the 911 call was made.

The Illinois State Fire Marshal's office was called to investigate and ruled the fire as undetermined for cause late Friday morning.

"His accounts added up with what the state fire marshal found," Taylor said. "This was his fourth incident."

Taylor said since 2003 Sanders has had four fire-related incidents, including a 2003 fire which caused major damage to the home.

The chief said Friday morning's fire also caused major damage but he didn't believe it was a total loss.

Sanders is currently not active as Royalton's Chief of Police, although he maintains the title. He is off on workman's compensation time.

Friday's fire took two hours to extinguish. Johnston City Firefighters covered the West Frankfort Fire Department station during the time firefighters were on scene.