No Injuries in Plainfield House Fire

Photo credit: Todd Sherman/Network Video Productions.

A fire broke out at 24101 Ottawa and Fox River in Plainfield early this morning. Plainfield Fire Protection District Chief David Riddle said there were no injuries and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

“Fire investigators are on the scene right now trying to figure out the origin and the subsequent cause,” Riddle said. “Nothing yet.”

There were at least two occupants in the house who were able to get out safely.

“Everybody had self-evacuated,” he said. “There were no rescues necessary. We did our routine search but all the occupants were already out.”

Firefighters were called to the scene at 2:02 a.m. The flames were under control about an hour later.

It isn’t certain whether or not the home is a total loss.

“It could go either way,” Riddle said. “I would not be surprised if they tore it down, but I’ve seen others rebuild with similar levels of damage.”

The construction of the house may have helped save it from being completely destroyed. Had it been a newer house, it almost certainly would have burnt to the ground.

“Those buildings take longer to burn down because of their dimensional lumber,” Riddle said. “If this would have been a similar size house with today’s construction and no home sprinkler system, that building would probably burn right to the ground.”

It also makes it harder for the fighters to get into some areas because they’re so well constructed, but it can also help.

“It gives us a more substantial structure that lasts longer and gives us time to get in there and perhaps find a victim,” Riddle said.