Fire guts Batavia home

A firefighter was injured and a house destroyed in a tough fire in Batavia Thursday night.

Firefighters were called to the home of Ted and Heidi Kauss at 937 Robin Drive around 6:30 p.m. The Kausses were away on vacation in Florida, but they saw their house on fire on Chicago TV news.

Cold weather, wind and a collapsed floor made the blaze difficult to fight, said Batavia Battalion Chief Randy Banker. It took 75 firefighters and 12 engines until about 10 p.m. to get the fire under control.

"It was really cold weather, and there was a decent wind out of the south that fanned the fire," he said.

The home is a total loss, with more than $500,000 damage to the home and its contents.

Lt. Robert White Jr. slipped on some ice and hurt his back, Banker said. He was treated and released from Provena Mercy Center in Aurora.

No one was home at the time of the fire, Banker said. The Kausses saw the fire while watching the news on WGN-TV, he said. The family could not be reached for comment Friday.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation but started in the basement of the home, the fire department said.

Crews from Geneva, St. Charles, Elburn, Sugar Grove, Aurora, North Aurora, West Chicago, Winfield and Montgomery assisted at the scene and at the Batavia department.

Firefighters remained on the scene throughout the night checking for hot spots.