Fire in Round Lake Beach apartment complex garages deemed not suspicious
A fire that broke out Monday in a bank of apartment complex garages in Round Lake Beach was not suspicious, authorities said.
Three cars were damaged in the blaze that sent a firefighter to the hospital for smoke inhalation, said Chief Greg Formica of the Round Lake Area Fire Protection District. The injured firefighter was treated and released, Formica said.
Investigators determined a total damage cost of $300,000 for the 12 garages involved in the blaze.
Formica said preliminary cause of the fire was electrical.
Aside from the vehicles, many residents stored personal belongings in the damaged garages, Formica said.
Firefighters were called to the 1400 block of Spring Brook Court at 5:39 p.m. Monday for the fire that started in one garage and spread to about a dozen nearby units, Formica said.
One of the detached garages was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, Formica said.
Firefighters called for a mutual aid box alarm before the blaze was brought under control in about 20 minutes.