Fire damages Buffalo Grove home

A Tuesday morning fire in Buffalo Grove torched the first floor of a townhouse, leaving the residence uninhabitable, fire officials said.

Crews from Buffalo Grove and five area departments responded to the fire on the 100 block of Old Oak Drive at 7:15 a.m. and found visible smoke and fire pouring out of the building, according to the Buffalo Grove Fire Department.

No residents or firefighters were injured in the blaze, but officials said the home was badly damaged. A monetary damage estimate was not available Tuesday.

The fire is thought to have started on the first floor by a pump motor for a saltwater aquarium, officials said.

Thirty-six firefighters and thirteen fire vehicles and ambulances responded to the scene. Buffalo Grove fire officials credit the crew's aggressive attack in preventing the fire from spreading to neighboring units, despite the morning's high winds.

The resident of the home smelled smoke before the activation of the smoke detector and called in the fire, according to the fire department.

A cat inside the building during the fire was rescued and administered an oxygen tank, according to authorities.