Firefighters have been kept busy as they responded to two separate house fires, including one that caused significant damage, less than 24 hours apart in Crystal Lake.
The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department responded around 11:01 p.m. Sunday to the 100 block of North Oak Street in Crystal Lake for a report of a structure fire.
Firefighters arrived and found smoke showing from the roof and flames showing from the side of the home, according to Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department Deputy Chief Mark Menzel.
Firefighters met with the occupant, who advised that the house had been evacuated.
Fire crews began extinguishing the fire from the exterior and then transitioned to the inside of the home to continue extinguishing the blaze, Menzel said.
Firefighters searched the home and confirmed no one else was inside.
They used two hose lines to bring the fire under control before performing ventilation, salvage and overhaul operations.
No injuries were reported and damage was estimated at $75,000, Menzel said.
Fire investigators determined the fire was accidental. The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department Bureau of Community Risk Reduction said they remind homeowners to have their chimneys serviced annually.
The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department was assisted at the scene by the Algonquin, Cary, McHenry and Huntley fire departments. The Woodstock and Carpentersville fire departments provided coverage at Crystal Lake’s fire station.
The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department responded to another reported structure fire around 6:12 p.m. Monday in the 100 block of College Street in Crystal Lake.
The call initially came in as a smoke investigation, according to Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department Battalion Chief Brian Tamason.
Firefighters arrived and found light smoke showing from the south side of a single-family residence.
The incident was upgraded and firefighters quickly located and extinguished the fire, which was in the crawl space and void area, Tamason said.
Additional fire crews simultaneously conducted searches of the home to ensure no one was inside while also checking for fire extension.
All occupants were safe and accounted for. No injuries were reported, Tamason said.
The fire was brought under control at 6:27 p.m.
Tamason said the home remains habitable as the fire damage, estimated to be $5,000, was isolated to a small area of the crawl space and void area.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department.