Fire damages Wheaton townhouses

Wheaton fire investigators Monday were trying to determine what sparked a weekend blaze that left portions of a four-unit townhouse uninhabitable.

The fire was reported at 2:27 p.m. Sunday when someone saw smoke coming from the roof of the two-story structure on the 1400 block of Johnstown Lane.

By the time emergency crews arrived about three minutes later, everyone who lives in the townhouse was safely outside the building. No one was injured.

Fire Chief Gregory Berk said investigators are working to determine what caused the blaze, which started in the attic. The structure’s smoke detectors were working at the time.

It took firefighters about 30 minutes to extinguish the fire, which eventually spread to the roof of the townhouse.

A damage estimate wasn’t available. However, Berk said he believes the two second-floor units are uninhabitable. Both first-floor units sustained minimal damage, he said.