Fire in Palatine townhouse complex injures two

A fast-moving fire that spread through a Palatine townhouse complex late Friday injured two residents and gutted two units. Firefighters were alerted shortly before midnight and found flames and smoke coming from the rear of two three-story townhouses in the 1000 block of North Glenview Court, according to the Palatine Fire Department.

As crews rushed in, residents were hurrying out. Firefighters searched but did not find anyone trapped in the buildings.

Two residents were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No update on their condition was available Saturday.

Fire crews had to open walls, ceilings and attic areas to get water on the flames and brought the blaze under control at about 12:45 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters stayed at the scene for some hours, salvaging items and ventilating fumes and smoke.

The cause is still under investigation, officials said.

Two of the townhouses are uninhabitable and a third incurred light smoke and wall damage.

A box alarm was called and departments from Rolling Meadows, Palatine Rural Fire District, Lake Zurich, Long Grove, Barrington, Elk Grove Township, Mount Prospect, Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Arlington Heights, and Itasca helped put out the blaze.

Officials reminded residents to have a working smoke detector in homes.