Eight Crystal Lake residents displaced by fire

Eight residents were displaced and four units declared uninhabitable after fire broke out Sunday afternoon at a Crystal Lake apartment complex.

One person complained of smoke inhalation and was treated at the scene, the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department said. No firefighters were injured.

Firefighters called to the Skyridge Club Apartments near Randall and Ackman roads at 12:24 p.m. arrived about six minutes later to find smoke and flames coming from a second-floor apartment of an eight-unit, two-story building, authorities said.

The residents of the apartment that caught fire were not home at the time, and the occupants of the other seven units evacuated safely.

The fire was declared under control at 1:01 p.m.

The apartment where the fire started was declared a total loss, while three adjacent apartments sustained smoke and water damage and were deemed uninhabitable until repairs can be made.

Residents were able to return to the four remaining apartments, which were untouched because the building was constructed with a fire separation wall, according to fire officials. The building was not equipped with sprinklers or monitored fire alarm system, firefighters said.

Fire officials said the American Red Cross is working with the displaced residents and Skyridge Club management to find them shelter.

Damage is estimated at $200,000, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.