No injuries as fire sweeps through Elgin house

No injuries were reported early Sunday morning when a fire caused extensive damage to a house on the 400 block of North Spring Street in Elgin.

What sparked the blaze, which caused an estimated $200,000 damage, is still under investigation.

Firefighters said the fire was discovered by a pedestrian who then walked four blocks to the Elgin police station to report it. When crews arrived on the scene shortly before 2 a.m., they said flames were visible on the first and second floors of the home as well as the attic and roof.

When firefighters entered the house, they found the fire had burned through the floor and ceiling, causing the house to be structurally unstable. A power line attached to the house also was near the fire, so ComEd crews were called to disconnect it.

It took 46 minutes to bring the blaze under control, and an extensive overhaul followed to ensure the fire was out. The homeowners told firefighters they had been working in the house on Saturday and had been burning in the fireplace. Although the cause of the fire has not been determined, much of the damage was near the fireplace.