March 28, 2024
Local News

Two DeKalb families displaced after Sunday morning fire causes $125K damage to Mason Townhomes

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DeKALB - Two families are displaced after their apartments were deemed uninhabitable following a fire that caused about $125,000 worth of damage at Mason Townhouse Suites in DeKalb Sunday morning.

According to a news release from the DeKalb Fire Department, crews responded to reports of a fire in a residential building in the 200 block of Deerpath Lane East shortly after 10 a.m. Sunday morning.

In total, nine people were displaced from two apartment units, and the American Red Cross is assisting them with accommodations. The fire is believed to have started in the living room on the second floor of a single apartment unit.

No injuries were reported, said Fire Chief Jeff McMaster.

Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy fire and a large volume of smoke coming from one unit on the four-unit complex at Mason Townhomes. The occupants of the complex had already evacuated themselves, the release states.

"When the guys got on scene, the one unit was fully involved, fire was coming out of two sides, out the back and the front," McMaster said. "We're still trying to establish an exact cause but it does appear accidental."

The blaze took multiple hose lines to fight, as firefighters searched the adjacent units for any other victims, then began assessing the roof to ventilate smoke and heat.

The fire was contained to two units in the building: one suffered severe fire damage, and another had fire and secondary smoke damage. The attic in the building also retain heavy fire damage, the release states.

After crews got the flames extinguished, which took about 47 minutes, the entire building was ventilated for smoke and firefighters remained on the scene for three hours and 10 minutes combated hot spots in the structure.

A citywide alert was sent around11 a.m. Sunday to avoid the area and find alternate routes. Around 12:30 p.m., the area South of Annie Glidden Road and north of Taylor Street was cleared.

The case of the fire remains under investigation.

Crews from Cortland, Genoa-Kingston, Hinckley, Malta, Maple Park, Sycamore and Waterman provided additional aid, as did the DeKalb Police Department, ComEd and Nicor.

Kelsey Rettke

Kelsey Rettke

Kelsey Rettke is the editor of the Daily Chronicle, part of Shaw Media and DeKalb County's only daily newspaper devoted to local news, crime and courts, government, business, sports and community coverage. Kelsey also covers breaking news for Shaw Media Local News Network.