Smoking materials blamed for Aurora blaze

About 25 residents were displaced from an Aurora apartment complex after a fire broke out because of careless use of smoking materials Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

No injuries were reported from the blaze that erupted at the apartment complex on Village Green Drive on Aurora's east side, near Eola Road and Ogden Avenue.

Aurora Fire Department Battalion Chief Larry Hankes said at least one of three young men on a wooden, second-floor balcony was smoking when ashes were placed in a plastic-type ashtray.

Wind apparently sent the ashes to the side of the wooden structure at 2816 and 2820 Village Green Drive, starting the fire about 2:40 p.m. He said most of the 20 apartment units were occupied when the blaze began.

Hankes said firefighters saved two dogs and two cats that were left behind by the fleeing residents, who alerted them about the pets. He said the residents escaped after smoke detectors sounded and an alarm system was activated.

Apartment dwellers are prohibited from using grills or other equipment that create ashes because of the possibility of causing a fire, Hankes said. He said investigators established careless use of smoking materials triggered Thursday's blaze.

Roughly $400,000 in damage was caused to the building and another $50,000 to the items in the apartment units, officials said. Hankes said the apartment complex management company provided housing to the displaced residents in a Naperville hotel.

Hankes said 35 firefighters and 17 units responded to the call. The fire was reported under control in 30 minutes.

"It was handled pretty well, I think," he said. "The guys did a good job."