Fire damages Pingree Grove house

Pingree Grove Fire Protection District officials say a fire Sunday at a home on the 38W500 block of Highland Avenue was accidentally ignited by unattended incendiary materials.

Firefighters were automatically alerted to the blaze by a smoke detector inside the house just before 3 p.m., officials said.

No residents were home at the time, and no injuries were reported.

Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a fire on the side of the house that had penetrated the siding and drywall and caused smoke inside the home.

The fire was extinguished within 15 minutes of arrival. Crews were on scene to check on hot spots until about 5 p.m., fire officials said.

The house was deemed inhabitable and suffered roughly $10,000 in damage, mainly to siding and drywall, officials explained.