Pair of Elgin fires likely arson

The Elgin Fire Department is investigating a pair of fires as arson, authorities said.

An early Thursday morning fire on McCornack Road south of Big Timber Road near Pingree Grove burned down an abandoned house and a vacant barn across the street from it, officials said.

A few hours earlier late Wednesday evening, an east side Elgin fire caused $70,000 worth of damage to a 90-year-old house in the 200 block of Gifford Place - the two families living there exited the home without injury, Battalion Chief Terry Bruce said.

At 1:48 a.m., firefighters from the Pingree Grove Fire Protection District arrived on the scene at McCornack Road and saw that flames had engulfed both buildings.

"We let it burn down, there's no way you could put it out," said Chief Mitch Crocetti.

The embers kept smoldering Thursday and will continue to do so for the next few days, Bruce said, adding that the house and barn were due to be razed at some point.

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire, but it so far appears the barn and nearby house were set on fire at the same time, Bruce said.

"All indications would be that it was arson," he said.

Fire personnel from Hampshire, Elburn, West Dundee, Rutland Dundee, South Elgin and Burlington assisted.

Meanwhile, Bruce said the Wednesday fire on Elgin's east side appears to be suspicious because it occurred seven minutes before midnight and started on the outside of the building - officials do not yet know what started the fire.

"It's really hard to tell," Bruce said. "That's just a gut on my part."

The flames moved into the house's first floor, then spread to the second floor and attic, rendering the structure uninhabitable.

The fire was under control within about 30 minutes.