Fire causes extensive damage to REHM Electric Shop in St. Charles

St. Charles fire officials are investigating the cause of a fire that caused extensive damage Tuesday night to REHM Electric Shop in downtown St. Charles.

No one was injured in the fire. At 7:45 p.m., the St. Charles Fire Department responded to REHM Electric Shop, located at 215 W. Main St., after a neighbor reported seeing smoke coming from the rear of the building, according to a news release from the St. Charles Fire Department.

Firefighters responding to the scene at 7:47 p.m. found moderate to heavy smoke coming from the rear of the building, the release stated. The fire was contained to the back of the building by firefighters and brought under control in approximately 80 minutes, according to the release.

The building’s first floor received extensive fire and smoke damage and adjacent commercial and residential units also had light to moderate smoke, the release stated. The smoke was ventilated, permitting those units to be returned to their occupants.

In putting out the blaze, firefighters had to contend with frigid temperatures, which froze equipment and created a slippery working environment. St. Charles Fire Department personnel remained on the scene throughout the night to provide a fire watch.

The St. Charles Fire Department was assisted on the scene by Geneva, Batavia, Elburn, West Chicago, North Aurora, Fermi, South Elgin, Sugar Grove, Bartlett and Burlington fire departments.