Wheaton house fire causes extensive damage

Authorities are investigating a fire that left a three-story house uninhabitable early Friday morning in Wheaton.

No one was home when the fire broke out about 4:50 a.m. at the residence on the 400 block of Ellis Avenue, officials said.

Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke and flames but were able to get the fire under control within 30 minutes, Deputy Fire Chief Bill Schultz said in a news release.

No injuries were reported, Schultz said, but the home was deemed uninhabitable because of extensive smoke, fire and water damage.

Officials said the fire’s cause was unknown and remained under investigation by the Wheaton Fire Department and the DuPage County Fire Investigation Task Force.

The Wheaton building department, Wheaton police and several neighboring fire departments assisted at the scene, officials said.