Fire leaves Elgin home uninhabitable

No injuries were reported, but a home was left uninhabitable Saturday night after fire broke out in a duplex on Elgin's east side, authorities said.

Elgin firefighters were called to the home in the 500 block of Thorndale Drive just before 8 p.m. on a report of fire coming from the garage. They arrived 4½ minutes later to find a split-level duplex with its entire rear area in flames and fire burning through the roof, fire officials said.

The fire was brought under control in approximately 20 minutes, according to the fire department.

The occupants of the residence were not home at the time of the fire. The building was red-tagged as uninhabitable and Elgin city code enforcement was notified for follow up. Two other homes suffered minor damage from heat and water, officials said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.