Careless smoking blamed for fire at Long Grove residence

Careless smoking is being blamed for a fire in the 3200 block of Middlesax Drive in Long Grove Wednesday afternoon, officials said in a news release.

Firefighters from the Long Grove Fire Protection District were called to the scene of the blaze at 12:52 p.m. with a report that a mulch pile outside the home had caught fire and spread to the crawlspace inside the home.

The one person home escaped the blaze, officials said, but was checked out by paramedics at the scene because of smoke inhalation. A dog was also rescued from the home by the homeowner, officials said.

Fire crews extinguished the exterior fire upon arrival, officials said in the news release, before cutting a hole in the floor of the home and pouring water on the blaze inside.

It was determined careless smoking had ignited the mulch pile outside the home and winds caused the fire to spread.

The extent of damages to the home were unavailable Thursday morning, officials said.

Firefighters from Buffalo Grove, Barrington, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Palatine and Palatine Rural were called to the scene to assist, while fire fighters from Fox Lake, Lake Forest and Libertyville covered fire stations for Long Grove.