Hoffman Estates garage fire causes $300,000 in damage, kills four pets

While all humans escaped injury, four pets did not survive a fire that engulfed the garage of a home on the 5000 block of Barcroft Drive in Hoffman Estates.

Firefighters responded to a 911 call around 6:45 p.m. Thursday reporting a car on fire in the home's attached garage.

"When we arrived, not only was the car on fire but the entire garage had become fully involved," said Hoffman Estates Fire Department Batallion Chief Rich Englund.

A second car and a motorcycle were also found in flames inside the garage. The home's residents already evacuated before engines arrived. Englund said firefighters attacked the flames from the unburned side of the structure inside the home and no one was injured.

The blaze was under control within about 30 minutes, Englund said, with help from these fire departments and districts: Barrington, Palatine Rural and Rolling Meadows.

Officials estimate damage at more than $300,000, and the home is currently uninhabitable. An investigator is also working to confirm that the flames did originate in the car, as reported by the residents.