Lawn Mower Fire Causes $50K In Damage

the Lake & McHenry County Scanner

By Sam Borcia | January 2, 2021 5:11 pm

No injuries were reported after a riding lawn mower caught fire in a garage in Crystal Lake, causing $50,000 in damages Saturday afternoon, fire officials said.

The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 1:43 p.m. Saturday to a report of a structure fire in the 7200 block of Red Oak Drive in unincorporated Crystal Lake.

Crystal Lake Fire Chief Paul DeRaedt said one of the homeowners was in the home when the fire started and called 911.

Firefighters arrived within three minutes and found smoke coming from the eaves of a two-car garage attached to a home.

Fire crews were able to gain access through a side window of the garage and quickly extinguish the fire, DeRaedt said.

The garage sustained heavy heat and smoke damage but the blaze did not spread to the attached home, which remains habitable.

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An initial investigation showed the fire may have started in a Cub Cadet riding lawn mower that was used just before the fire started, DeRaedt said.

A car in the garage also sustained heat and smoke damage. There were no injuries to any firefighters or occupants.

The home was located in an area that did not have fire hydrants and water tenders were requested to the scene through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS).

Fire investigators from Nunda-Rural and Cary fire departments are assisting Crystal Lake in the investigation.

Damage to the garage is estimated at $25,000 while the car and tractor damage is estimated at $24,000.

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.