Lombard responds to two fires in 12 hours

Lombard fire officials are warning area residents to be extra cautious with heating equipment after the department responded to two blazes in 12 hours on Sunday.

The first blaze was sparked by a bird nest in a chimney, while the second was caused by a malfunctioning furnace.

The chimney fire, which happened Sunday afternoon on the 400 block of East Berkshire Avenue, was extinguished within a few minutes. Still, damage is estimated at roughly $150,000, and the family that lives in the house can't return until the roof is repaired.

On Sunday night, firefighters responded to a townhouse along North Cimarron Road, where a malfunctioning furnace overheated and sent smoke and soot into the unit, officials said. There was no damage to the structure, but the control board was damaged.

No one was injured. Officials said the house and townhouse both had functioning smoke detectors.

Meanwhile, Lombard Fire Chief Ed Seagraves said if people notice missing or loose gardening or trim around the chimney, the entire chimney should be checked for nests. He also recommends having a licensed contractor check heating units.

"The biggest thing is make sure that they have not only their furnace, but their hot water heaters checked," said James Plunket, the department's public information officer.