Power surge causes fire at McHenry home
Workers re-roofing a house in McHenry caused a power surge into the home, starting several fires in the attic and walls, fire officials said.
McHenry Township Fire Protection District were called about 5:30 p.m. Friday for a roof fire at a home on the 3600 block of West Ellen Road, officials said in a news release.
Workers removing shingles from the roof accidentally made contact with the power lines connecting the house to the utility pole, causing a short, which in turn caused a power surge, officials said. The surge then caused several shorts in the house wiring.
The blaze did about $35,000 in damage. The cause was ruled accidental and directly related to the power surge, officials said. The house was left uninhabitable.
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