2 Families Displaced After Apartment Fire In Elgin

ELGIN, IL – Two families were displaced after a fire broke out in a 12-unit apartment building in Elgin Wednesday night, fire officials said. The Elgin Fire Department was called to the 300 block of Kathleen Drive at 6:40 p.m. for a reported stove fire. When fire crews arrived at the scene, they found light smoke coming from the ceiling and determined the fire on the stove had gotten into the wall behind the stove, according to a news release from the Elgin Fire Department.

The blaze traveled above the drywall and into the attic space, authorities said.

Fire crews evacuated residents from the complex and checked the entire building to make sure no one was still inside and that the fire had not spread elsewhere, according to the fire department news release.

Two families were displaced due to the fire and have decided to stay with relatives, fire officials said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

There were working smoke detectors in the building, which alerted the occupants to the fire.

Chief Schmidt reminds everyone about the importance of working smoke detectors to alert
occupants of smoke and the importance of calling the Fire Department immediately in order to
prevent injury or much greater property damage.