Tom & Jerry’s of Sycamore Updates Community After Devastating Fire

After a fire caused over $1 million in damage, Tom & Jerry's in Sycamore, Illinois is thanking residents for their support and kindness, but also warning them about donating to unofficial GoFundMe campaigns.

Fire at Tom & Jerry's Restaurant in Sycamore

Like most people in the Rockford area, I woke up Saturday morning (January 31) to the news of a devastating fire that took place at Tom & Jerry's restaurant located at 1670 DeKalb Ave. in Sycamore.

According to the Sycamore Fire Department, crews were dispatched around 4 a.m. on January 31 to the restaurant after receiving reports of smoke coming from the building, but what they found was a fully involved fire inside the building.

Firefighters immediately launched into an interior attack, but the heavy smoke, extreme heat, and structural stability quickly turned dangerous, so crews were forced to fight the  blaze from outdoors.

The fire was brought under control by 6 a.m., but the destruction was massive.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and fire damage is estimated to be around 1.5 million dollars.

Obviously, this is a devastating loss not only for Tom & Jerry's owners, but for the entire Sycamore and DeKalb area who loved enjoying meals there.

Update From Tom & Jerry's of Sycamore

One of the things I love most about the Stateline area community is the love and support we show others during traumatic times, and Tom & Jerry's of Sycamore has seen a ton of that in the days following the fire.

Unfortunately, they're also worried about the possibility of people trying to capitalize off their devastation.

I am choosing to believe that the GoFundMe pages have been started by caring community members that want to help Tom & Jerry's rebuild, but you know what they say about assuming.

If you feel passionate about helping the Tom & Jerry's of Sycamore family over the next days and months, it's probably best to reach out to them directly...just to be safe.