Christmas Day Fire Renders Aurora House Uninhabitable: FD

AURORA, IL — A fire destroyed a house on Christmas Day in the 1900 block of Sedgegrass Trail, Aurora Fire Department officials said.

Multiple neighbors called 911 around noon Dec. 25 to report visible flames showing from the two-story single-family home. The second alarm brought a total of 26 personnel to the scene.

The first crews to arrive found heavy fire climbing the side of the house, with smoke pushing through the roof eaves. Firefighters began extinguishing the fire from the exterior before entering the second floor. Additional crews searched the house, deployed backup hose lines, ventilated the roof and overhauled the exterior, officials said.

Ultimately, crews brought the fire under control within 30 minutes, according to a news release.

All residents evacuated before firefighters arrived, and no injuries were reported, officials said. The home was declared uninhabitable.

Crews remained on the scene to help the homeowner retrieve personal belongings and secure the property while ComEd and Nicor shut off utilities.

"This was a fast-moving fire with challenging access conditions, but our crews worked quickly to stop it from spreading further," Aurora Fire Deputy Chief Kevin Nickel said in a statement. "Structure fires tend to spike during the winter months, so it’s a good time for everyone to check their smoke alarms and stay alert to fire risks around the home."

Officials said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.