Suspicious fire damages vacant Vernon Hills home

No one was injured in a house fire early Monday on the 1000 block of Royal Oak Drive in Vernon Hills, authorities say.

The fire was reported about 1:45 a.m. in a vacant house. Firefighters responding to the scene encountered flames in the garage area and had the blaze under control in about 30 minutes.

The fire was suspicious and is under investigation, Countryside Fire Protection District officials said. Damage was estimated at $200,000.