Home burns in South Elgin

Fire struck a South Elgin home and garage early Thursday, causing an estimated $250,000 damage.

Firefighters were called at 12:10 a.m., South Elgin Fire Chief Joe Cluchey said, and when they arrived at 851 S. East Ave., they saw flames coming from the attic, garage and patio area in the rear of the split-level home.

The two residents of the home were evacuated, and two dogs in the home were rescued by firefighters.

No one was injured.

The residents will stay with relatives in the area while a decision is made to rebuild or repair the home, which is now uninhabitable.

One civilian on the scene was treated and released by paramedics.

Cluchey said parts of the roof and attic burned off by the fire, which progressed rapidly. The garage collapsed on the vehicles inside, he said.

There were six vehicles in the garage, including some classic cars.

It took about one hour to bring the fire under control, and fire departments from 12 other Fox Valley communities helped out.

"The fire did not appear to be suspicious in any way," Cluchey said.

However, members of the Kane County Fire Investigation Task Force began investigating the fire soon after it was extinguished about an hour after the initial call came in.

An investigation by the task force occurs after any large fire, Cluchey said.