4 Structure Fires Break Out Over 4th Of July Weekend In Aurora: FD

AURORA, IL — Two houses, a garage and a wooden fence caught fire over the Fourth of July weekend, Aurora Fire Department officials said.

The four structure fires were reported between July 4-5, and "all occupants were safely accounted for," officials said. The cause of each fire remains under investigation, according to a Monday news release.

The first incident occurred at 4:39 p.m. July 4 in the 1300 block of Monomy Avenue. Crews responded to a report of smoke and discovered that trash had caught on fire and spread to a wooden fence and the brick exterior of an apartment building. Firefighters "quickly extinguished" the flames, which did not extend to the interior of the building. Paramedics treated one resident on the scene for minor injuries, but he declined hospital transportation, officials said.

At 10:25 p.m., firefighters were called to the 1100 block of Pearl Street for a home that was "fully engulfed, with possible explosions and people trapped inside." Crews arrived to find a heavily involved fire and began an aggressive attack and search efforts.

All nine occupants escaped uninjured, and the fire was brought under control in about 30 minutes. Ten residents were displaced, and both Victim Services and the Red Cross were called in to assist.

A third fire broke out around 1:33 p.m. the next day in the 2400 block of Blue Spruce Lane, where heavy smoke and flames were reported coming from a garage. Crews brought the fire under control within 10 minutes. No one was inside, and the residence remained habitable, officials said.

A second garage fire was reported at 9:48 p.m. July 5 in the 900 block of Four Seasons Boulevard. A resident reported the working fire and said occupants might have been inside the home. Firefighters rescued a 35-year-old woman from a second-floor bedroom, and she was hospitalized for smoke inhalation.

The fire was brought under control in less than 10 minutes, but the house was deemed uninhabitable. Residents found temporary housing on their own, officials said.

"Our firefighters, medics, and dispatchers worked tirelessly through an extremely busy holiday weekend. The rapid, professional response in each of these incidents prevented far more serious outcomes," Aurora Fire Chief David McCabe said in a statement. "We're grateful to our mutual aid partners and police personnel who supported us on scene, and we remind residents to be vigilant when using grills, open-flame equipment, and other ignition sources—especially in hot and dry conditions."