Officials probe suspicious Des Plaines fire

Des Plaines police and fire officials are investigating a suspicious fire which damaged three cars in a condominium complex garage late Saturday night.

Jeff Schuck, fire prevention bureau division chief for the Des Plaines Fire Department, said the fire at 603 S. River Road may be arson because two of three cars involved in the blaze were parked about 40-feet from each other inside the single-floor parking garage of the condominium complex.

He said the fire department was called to the scene about the car fires about 10:15 p.m. Saturday. He said, upon arrival, firefighters saw the three cars ablaze and quickly put out the fires.

He said damages were limited to the automobiles and a small portion of the parking garage ceiling. No one was injured in the incident, he said.

"Two of the cars were found in separate locations of the garage, which is what makes it suspicious," he said. "One car was parked on the north area of the garage, the second and third were parked on the south side, about 40-feet from the first car."

He said police and fire investigators continue to investigate the blaze.

Thomas Nagle, president of the condominium association, said the fire and its suspicious origin left residents of the normally quiet complex fearful. The 47-year resident of Des Plaines has lived in the building since it was put up 26 years ago. "I've never seen anything like this," he said of the damage.

He praised the quick response by the fire department, which has a station two blocks away, for limiting the damage to the garage area. There was a little smoke damage inside the building, but all units still are occupied, he said.