Fire forces residents out of Arlington Heights apartments

Thirteen residents of an Arlington Heights area apartment building were left temporarily homeless Tuesday after an early morning fire in the six-unit building’s utility/storage room.

Firefighters managed to confine flames to the storage room in the Country Glen complex, in the 2300 block of Nichols Road, but residents were forced to move out because the fire melted electric meters and water pipes, said officials from the Long Grove Fire Department.

The first-floor room was engulfed with fire that was extinguished with about 500 gallons of water, officials said.

The entire building, located just south of Lake-Cook Road and east of Route 53, received minimal smoke damage, and one apartment got some water damage, said Chief Robert Turpel. Total damage is estimated at $40,000.

Two people were treated at the scene after inhaling smoke, but declined to go to the hospital, officials said.

The American Red Cross was working with the fire department and residents to find housing, said Deputy Chief Kenneth Buchardt, who is leading the investigation into the fire’s cause. It has been determined to be accidental.

The fire was reported at 6:18 a.m. Firefighters arrived at 6:24, and flames were extinguished within 12 minutes, according to a news release from Turpel.

Other fire departments that responded were Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Lake Zurich, Palatine, Palatine Rural and Wheeling.