Fund set up to aid Algonquin fire victims

A trio of Algonquin women are taking up a collection for their Helen Drive neighbors who lost their house and four pets in a fire Monday.

Christine Limbach, Karen Stewart and Ellen Harman have set up the Glauner Family Fire Fund at Algonquin State Bank to accept monetary donations.

The women also are collecting clothes, toys, gift cards, toiletries and the like for the Glauners.

"In the face of this devastating event, it's hard to know the right thing to do, so we're trying to make it easy for everyone to help," Limbach said.

A blaze tore through the Glauner home Monday, destroying everything in its path and killing the family's hamster, bird and two Labrador retrievers.

While the six-member family that includes two parents, three children and a grandmother were not hurt, the fire rendered their home uninhabitable.

They are currently staying in a local hotel.

Kim Matz, a spokeswoman for the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District, confirms the fire came back to life at some point during the night.

Investigators have ruled out arson as a cause, she said.

You can donate money at any of the bank's three locations -- 800 E. Algonquin Road, 221 S. Main Street and 2400 Huntington Drive N.

Donations also are accepted online at algonquinstatebank.com.

To offer up non-monetary items, call: Karen Stewart at (847) 658-3290; Ellen Harman at (847) 458-5932; or Christine Limbach at (847) 854-4188.

They will see that your items get to the family.