Sugar Grove firefighters fight wind chill, blaze

Firefighters battled a house blaze in the Prestbury subdivision near Sugar Grove for six hours with wind chills dipping down to 20 degrees below zero Sunday.

Sugar Grove firefighters were called to the home at 35 Windwood Court at about 6 a.m.

The two residents had smelled smoke and were able to get out of the house. After fire personnel arrived, they were able to rescue their pet dog, Sugar Grove Deputy Chief David Adler said.

The fire started in the basement, and firefighters had to exit the house before part of the first floor collapsed, Adler said. Firefighters then had to fight the blaze only from outside of the house.

Other departments responded to help because the fire was burning quickly and intensely, Adler said. Crews also had to switch out firefighters, some of whom were covered in ice.

One firefighter was in danger of having frostbite, but was treated at the scene, Adler said.

Neighbors in the area offered food and their homes for firefighters so they could stay warm.

Firefighters were on the scene until about noon. The home is uninhabitable and suffered about $500,000 in damage, Adler said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.