A house belonging to former Bears guard Mark Bortz reportedly burned down early Wednesday.
The home, located in downstate Liberty, Ill., was fully engulfed in flames when members of the Liberty Fire Department arrived on the scene, according to the Quincy Herald-Whig Newspaper.
Fire Chief Don Loos told the newspaper that firefighters were unable to save the two-story house.
"On our arrival, the house was fully engulfed and everyone was out," Loos said. "So we concentrated our efforts with the brush trucks on saving the barns and the out buildings. They lost pretty much everything in the house."
Bortz and his wife were able to get out of their home after being awakened by smoke detectors.
A converted college defensive tackle, Bortz played 12 seasons for the Bears from 1983-94, appearing in a franchise-record 13 playoff games. He was a starting offensive lineman on the famed 1985 team that won Super Bowl XX and was voted to two Pro Bowls.
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| Mark Bortz was selected by the Bears in the eighth round of the 1983 NFL Draft out of Iowa. |
Fire Chief Don Loos told the newspaper that firefighters were unable to save the two-story house.
"On our arrival, the house was fully engulfed and everyone was out," Loos said. "So we concentrated our efforts with the brush trucks on saving the barns and the out buildings. They lost pretty much everything in the house."
Bortz and his wife were able to get out of their home after being awakened by smoke detectors.
A converted college defensive tackle, Bortz played 12 seasons for the Bears from 1983-94, appearing in a franchise-record 13 playoff games. He was a starting offensive lineman on the famed 1985 team that won Super Bowl XX and was voted to two Pro Bowls.
Read full story
