Bird Nest Fire Displaces 5 Residents from Homes

AURORA, IL — A vacant home caught fire due to a bird’s nest on top of an exterior porch light.

Aurora Fire Department Lt Jim Rhodes says crews were called to a town home in the 3900 block of Blackstone Drive at 6:14 p.m. June 21.

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The first call to 911 was by a passerby who noticed the fire and was followed up by a second call from a resident that lived in the town house next door, Rhodes said.

The unit that the fire started in was a vacant property and residents that lived on both sides were able to self-evacuate. Upon arrival fire crews found a two story town home with heavy fire showing from the front. The fire went to a third alarm bringing 35 firefighters to the scene and taking one-and-a-half hours to fully extinguish the fires in both units.

The fire started in the 3900 block of Blackstone and spread to 4000 block of Blackstone, the unit next door, and caused heavy damage to the attic area. The other unit in the 3900 block of Blackstone Dr. only had minor exterior fire damage and light smoke damage in the interior.

The cause of the fire has been ruled accidental due to a bird nest that was built on top of the exterior front porch light. The light had been left on which ignited the fire.

Both town homes that were damaged by fire were deemed uninhabitable, displacing a total of 5 people. The Red Cross and Victims Services were not called out because those displaced are staying with nearby family.

It is estimated that the total fire damage to both houses, including both contents and structure, is $250,000. There were no injuries reported.