Kitchen fire leaves townhouse unit uninhabitable in Buffalo Grove

A kitchen fire in a Buffalo Grove townhouse Thursday afternoon left one of the building's four units uninhabitable, authorities said.

Firefighters were dispatched at 2:14 p.m. to The Courtyards at the Woodlands on the 2300 block of Magnolia Court East, located near the intersection of Half Day and Buffalo Grove roads. Upon arrival, they saw smoke showing from one of the units and broke in to attack the blaze, which started in the kitchen, according to Interim Fire Chief Mike Baker.

The homeowners were not there at the time. Residents of the adjoining homes safely evacuated, staying with neighbors until firefighters allowed them to return.

No injuries were reported.

Most of the damages were to the kitchen, but the attic also had minor damage where the fire had spread. An adjoining townhouse unit had some water damage, Baker said.

A cause of the fire was undetermined.

Beth Black, property manager of the townhouse complex, said the homeowners recently moved in to the 26-year-old complex. "It's a shame," Black said.

The Buffalo Grove Fire Department was assisted on scene by six other area departments.