Fire damages Hoffman Estates townhouses

A fire in the back of a Hoffman Estates townhouse complex left two units uninhabitable late Sunday afternoon, officials said.

Firefighters responded to the fire in the 1700 block of Sussex Walk at 4:04 p.m. and found flames in the rear of the building traveling up the siding, according to the Hoffman Estates Fire Departments.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Sunday night, but it is possible that blaze was started by charcoals from a barbecue grill that were improperly disposed of, said Battalion Chief Richard Englund.

No one was home in either unit affected by the fire, and there were no reported injuries, officials said.

The fire never extended into either townhouse, but damaged the outside of the building and shattered some windows, Englund said.

The fire caused about $30,000 in damages to the structure and contents, according to an early estimate.

Although the fire was extinguished quickly, the flames damaged an electric meter outside the home, leaving both units without electricity, Englund said.