Electrical problems may have started Lake Zurich house fire
Lake Zurich firefighters are investigating whether a problem with an electrical panel caused a house fire Sunday that killed a family dog and left the structure uninhabitable.
Fire Chief John Malcolm said it appears the blaze started in the basement of the house in the 500 block of Richmond Circle. The homeowner and his family were returning to their residence when he discovered the fire and called 911.
Fire crews arrived about 11:42 a.m. to find heavy smoke coming from the front of the two-story house. The fire was under control by 12:02 p.m., fire officials said.
The burn patterns and location of the damage indicate the fire may have started because of an electrical problem, Malcolm said. The fire caused an estimated $100,000 in damage.
The homeowner was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation after trying to rescue the family's pets, Malcolm said. He was able to find and remove one dog from the house, but the dog did not survive.
Firefighters were able to rescue a second dog that was treated at the scene and taken to a Buffalo Grove veterinary clinic for evaluation, Malcolm said.
The residents are staying with relatives because the fire caused smoke damage throughout the house, Malcolm said.