Fish tank accessory likely cause of Lake in the Hills fire

An early morning house fire, which might have been started by a faulty aquarium accessory, left a Lake in the Hills home uninhabitable Wednesday, officials said.

No on was hurt in the 6:20 a.m. fire on Barnharbor Drive Huntley fire deputy chief Keith Mallegni said.

"One of the home's residents reported smoke coming from the aquarium's chiller," Mallegni said. Chillers are temperature control devices used in large salt-water aquariums.

The chiller caught fire, destroying the aquarium and causing smoke damage to the home's two stories, Mallegni said. The home's first level was covered in soot.

The incident caused about $200,000 in damage, officials said.

"There wasn't much left of the aquarium, but no one was hurt," he said.