Blowtorch Reported As Cause Of Forrest Ave. House Fire: Geneva FD

GENEVA, IL — The Geneva Fire Department said a home under construction in the 800 block of Forrest Avenue was damaged Tuesday morning by a fire caused by the reported use of a contractor's blowtorch. The department said Geneva fire crews responded to a call made at 8:53 a.m. by a construction worker who was working on the property, and arrived to find smoke and fire in the back of the single-family home.

According to the department, no residents were home during the fire and firefighters were able to put the blaze out by 9:31 a.m. No injuries were reported.

A preliminary investigation reports the cause of the fire to be from the contractor's reported use of a blowtorch to melt ice on the home’s new addition foundation, according to the department. Estimates of minor damage to the home aren't yet available. The department said the Geneva Police Department, firefighters from Batavia, St. Charles, Elburn and West Chicago also assisted Geneva firefighters at the scene, while the Fermilab and North Aurora fire departments filled in Geneva Fire Stations No. 1 and 2 during the call.

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