Schaumburg garage fire caused $100,000 damage; cause still unknown
The early investigation into a fire that damaged three garages and three cars at International Village apartments in Schaumburg Wednesday indicates that it was almost certainly an accident that probably started in one of the vehicles, officials said Thursday.
Schaumburg Fire Chief David Schumann said the damage is estimated at $100,000, which includes the structure and the three vehicles, one of which was a 1980 Pontiac Firebird in good if not show condition.
The ongoing investigation has yet determine the exact cause of the fire, Schumann said.
No one was injured in the blaze, which was first reported at 12:04 p.m. Wednesday. Firefighting efforts lasted about two hours.
Each of the damaged two-car garages was part of an overall structure containing five garages. Two of the vehicles were destroyed by the flames, while one sustained smoke damage, officials said.
A water main break that occurred during the fire caused five apartment buildings at International Village to be deemed temporarily uninhabitable due to lack of water service. The matter was resolved later in the afternoon, apartment managers said.
Frozen water from the firefighting efforts also caused all westbound traffic and all but one lane of eastbound traffic on Algonquin Road to be temporarily shut down between Meacham and Plum Grove roads Wednesday. The road fully reopened later in the afternoon.