Coals spark fire inside Hoffman Estates garage

Coals from a charcoal grill are to blame for a Sunday afternoon fire that damaged a Hoffman Estates garage, according to fire officials.

Firefighters were dispatched to the home on the 1320 block of Nottingham Lane at 12:48 p.m. and found smoke coming from the attached garage and attic eaves, according to the Hoffman Estates Fire Department.

The homeowner met the first crews on the driveway of the one and a half story ranch home and told them he put coals from a grill into a garbage can in the garage, which was on fire, officials said.

Although the fire was contained to the garbage can and other items around the can, officials estimated the damage to the structure and contents at $20,000.

The fire never extended to the structure of the home, but caused minor smoke damage inside the house and moderate smoke damage to the garage, according to fire officials.

All of the occupants were out of the house during the fire, and there were no reported injuries, officials said.