Residents displaced after Wheaton apartment fire

Several Wheaton residents were left temporarily homeless Wednesday night after a fire on the first floor of an apartment building along Roosevelt Road.

No one was injured during the blaze, which began in a unit of the building at 1117 E. Roosevelt Road. The residents who lived in the unit weren't home when the fire started.

Wheaton firefighters responded about 6:30 p.m. to a report of smoke. Deputy Chief Bill Schultz said the fire was brought under control within minutes after crews arrived.

Everyone inside the 24-unit apartment building escaped safely.

Firefighters reported smoke damage in some of the units around the one where the blaze began.

The Red Cross assisted the displaced residents with temporary housing. Other residents were able to return to their apartments.

Schultz said fire investigators still are trying to determine what sparked the blaze. However, he said officials believe the cause was accidental. Damage estimates were unavailable.

Officials with Wheaton's building department were called to the scene. Wheaton police and several fire departments from neighboring communities provided assistance.