Construction worker starts Arlington Heights house fire

Using a torch, a construction worker accidentally set fire to an Arlington Heights home this morning, according to the Arlington Heights Fire Department.

No one was injured in the fire, which started about 10:15 a.m. today at 1415 W. Grove St., said Deputy Chief Ken Koeppen.

"He just was up sealing parts of the roof with the torch," said Koeppen of the construction worker.

The fire started in the roof and quickly spread into the home's attic and walls, causing about $120,000 worth of damage, Koeppen said.

Homeowners Andrea and Tim Kelly were away at the time of the blaze. Their two children were at school. Andrea Kelly said she received a call from one of her daughters alerting her to the fire. When she arrived at the home, firefighters had rescued several pets from the home, including the family's dog.

The fire department was called at 10:23 a.m. and the fire was extinguished in about 15 minutes, Koeppen said. In total 29 firefighters from Arlington Heights and surrounding departments responded, he said. Koeppen said the home was uninhabitable today.