Fire damages Des Plaines home

An early morning fire damaged a ranch house on the first block of North Warrington Road in Des Plaines Saturday, authorities said.

The residents awoke to smoke and fire, escaped safely out of the house and called 911 from their cellphone just after 3:30 a.m.

The first arriving firefighters found a large blaze in the basement and flames already spreading to the first floor and attic, Fire Chief Alan Wax said in an email. By 4:04 a.m., the fire was declared under control.

There were no injuries to residents. One firefighter suffered a very minor injury that did not require treatment, Wax said.

The blaze started in the basement, but investigators are determining the exact origin and cause.

Crews from Mount Prospect, Niles, North Maine, and Park Ridge fire departments assisted Des Plaines in battling the blaze.