Lombard garage fire causes $250,000 damage

A garage fire caused an estimated $250,000 in damages late Tuesday night in Lombard, authorities said Thursday.

Firefighters were called to a home on the 400 block of Collen Drive around 11:51 p.m. for a fire reported to be in an attached garage, officials said.

Battalion Chief Ray Kickert said the fire was coming from the garage and moving up the side of the house and into the attic when crews arrived.

Two cars parked in the driveway also were on fire.

Residents from the house and adjacent properties evacuated the area with help from Lombard police before firefighters arrived. There were no reported injuries.

It took roughly 30 minutes to extinguish the fire, which heavily damaged the garage and second floor. Crews stayed on the scene for an additional 90 minutes to perform salvage operations and extinguish hot spots.

The family of five that lived in the home is unable to return for now, Kickert said.

Investigators have determined the cause of the fire was smoking materials in the garage.

Lombard firefighters were assisted by crews from the Villa Park, Downers Grove, Oak Brook and Elmhurst fire departments, along with the Lisle-Woodridge, Addison, York Center and Glenside fire protection districts.