Thanksgiving Day fire leaves Elgin family homeless

A family of five on Elgin's west side was left homeless after smoke from a Thanksgiving Day fire destroyed their house, authorities said today.

Nobody was hurt in the Thursday morning blaze that originated in the basement of a one-story house at 65 S. Belmont Ave., Elgin Fire Department Batallion Chief Terry Bruce said.

The fire, called in at 9:02 a.m., was contained to the basement near the furnace area, Bruce said.

The family had already left the house when fire personnel arrived three minutes later, Bruce said.

Authorities shut off all utilities to the home amid concerns about a possible gas pipe leak. A water pipe had already broken.

"Unfortunately, given the holiday, it might be a day or two" before water, gas and electricity are restored, Bruce said.

The flames, which took 20 minutes to put out, resulted in minor structural damage and burned up a lot of clothes, Bruce said.

It was excessive smoke damage - combined with the suspended utilities - that left the house uninhabitable, Bruce said. The family is staying with relatives.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.