Palatine fire kills family’s cat

A Palatine house fire killed the family’s cat Tuesday afternoon, but no other injuries were reported.

A passer-by noticed smoke and reported the fire on the 200 block of East Cedarwood Court to the Palatine Fire Department at noon.

Crews from a nearby fire station arrived on the scene within four minutes quickly put out the fire in the tri-level single-family residence, declaring the blaze under control within 12 minutes of arrival. Even so, the structure suffered extreme damage on the first floor and smoke damage throughout, said Palatine Battalion Chief Doug Hoyt. “They’re going to have quite a bit of work to do,” Hoyt said. “It’s not inhabitable any time soon.”

The residents weren’t home at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported.

No damage estimates were available.

Responding to the fire were 23 firefighters. Three ambulances responded to the scene, along with three commanding officers and a fire investigator.

The fire remains under investigation.