Three Algonquin house fires under investigation

In the last five days the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District has responded to three fires at Algonquin homes within a block of each another.

Whether the incidents are related is under investigation, Assistant Fire Chief Peter Van Dorpe said Thursday.

The fire department is working with police to investigate the fires, Algonquin Deputy Police Chief Steve Kuzynowski said.

The first fire was reported at 12:30 a.m. Saturday at an abandoned home in the 300 block of Glenwood Court, and the second at 3 a.m. at a home in the 300 block of Crestwood Court.

The most recent fire was reported at 11:40 p.m. Wednesday, also at a home in the 300 block of Crestwood.

No injuries were reported in any of the fires.

Because it is unclear what caused the fires, police are referring to them as arson, Kuzynowski said.

"It's a suspicious situation that we're investigating," Kuzynowski said.

The fire department extinguished Wednesday's fire at a single-story home. According to a news release, the homeowner reported seeing smoke and flames coming from the deck attached to the home at 11:40 p.m. The homeowner was fighting the fire with a garden hose before firefighters arrived.

The fire, put out in about 18 minutes, caused approximately $50,000 damage, a fire official said.

The Illinois State Fire Marshal is assisting with the investigations.

Kuzynowski said anyone who noticed suspicious activity in the area should contact police at (847) 658-4531.