Fire damages Palatine townhouse; Resident escapes unharmed

No injuries were reported after fire broke out Saturday morning on the third floor of a Palatine townhouse.

Palatine Fire Department officials said firefighters called to the residence in the 200 block of East Parallel Street at 11:23 a.m. encountered heavy smoke and heat coming from the unit’s third story.

Firefighters deployed hose lines to the third floor while other crews used thermal imaging cameras to check for victims, officials said.

The resident was safely located outside the house and the fire was declared under control at 11:41 a.m., according to the fire department. One civilian was evaluated on scene and declined transport to the hospital.

Damage estimates were unavailable Sunday and the cause of the fire remains under investigation, authorities said.

The fire was fought by 25 firefighters staffing four engines, one ladder truck, one rescue squad and four ambulances, which responded to the scene along with three command officers. Palatine police assisted at the scene with traffic and crowd control.