Wheeling home destroyed in fire

Wheeling firefighters say a single-family home is nearly a total loss following a Saturday morning fire.

A resident of the three-bedroom ranch home on the 200 block of Fletcher Drive, just west of Elmhurst Road, noticed smoke coming from the washer/dryer area shortly before 10 a.m., Wheeling Fire Battalion Chief Dave Palmeri said.

In the five to seven minutes that passed before crews arrived, the heat caused most of the house to “auto-ignite,” Palmeri said. Firefighters had the blaze under control within 10 minutes.

The male resident escaped unharmed, and no firefighters were injured.

Palmeri estimated the fire caused $150,000 to $180,000 in damage to the home, which was almost completely destroyed. He said the family will temporarily stay with relatives.

Crews from the Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove and Long Grove Fire Departments assisted.