Cats hurt in Elgin garage fire

Fire this morning damaged a garage in Elgin's historic district, harming several cats as well as a 1957 Chevy.

No people were injured in the fire that damaged the front of the century-old garage on Fulton Street near Chapel Street, but David Key, who lives next door said four of his kittens were burned by a piece of melting plastic.

Key said stray cats in the neighborhood often congregate at the garage because he has put water and cat food outside of it for the past 15 years.

To his knowledge, no other cats were injured.

"The rest of my cats are freaking out," he said.

The two-car garage is a beautiful blue and white wooden structure that the landlord estimates was built around 1900 and was initially used for horses.

There was some minor damage done to a 1957 Chevrolet parked inside the garage, a fire investigator said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The last fire engine left the scene at 10:29 p.m. South Elgin and West Dundee fire crews assisted.

Fulton Street was blocked off between Geneva and Chapel streets.