Batavia fire destroys car, damages 4 townhomes; no injuries

A fire destroyed a vehicle in a one-car garage and damaged four townhouses in Batavia Friday night.

No one was injured in the fire that began at about 8:15 p.m. at a unit on the 400 block of Mill Street on the city's west side, Batavia Deputy Fire Chief Craig Hanson said.

Crews from numerous fire departments were called in to assist in containing the fire, which was originally reported as vehicle on fire in a garage but was upgraded to a structure fire as the flames spread to a second-floor bedroom above the garage and then into three connected townhouse units.

"Everyone was out (of the affected townhouses) when crews arrived. They just did a search to verify," said Hanson, who noted that a cause of the fire had not been determined.

Neighbors watched as firefighters put out the burning car and garage; firefighters also worked to ensure the flames didn't spread through the attics of the townhouses.

A damage estimate was not immediately available. Rescue crews from Geneva, St. Charles, Cortland, South Elgin, Warrenville and West Chicago also assisted.