Accidental Fire Left Plainfield Townhouse Inhabitable: Fire Department

PLAINFIELD, IL — A fire that started accidentally Sunday in the attic of a Plainfield townhouse left the residence uninhabitable, according to officials at the Plainfield Fire Protection District.

The attic fire began at about 3:29 p.m. Sunday at a townhouse in the 14600 block of Thomas Jefferson Drive in Plainfield. Firefighters were dispatched after receiving a 911 call from someone saying there was a fire near Wallin Drive and Presidential Avenue.

The first units arrived within six minutes of the call and found a "large volume of smoke showing," the fire rapidly advancing up the side of the building into the attic of a four-unit townhouse, according to a news release. The blaze was contained to the end unit and attic.

The family, who was home at the time, was uninjured, officials said.

Nicor and ComEd were called to the scene to secure utilities. The building was deemed uninhabitable and sustained about $300,000 in damages.

Plainfield Fire Protection District investigators determined the incident was accidental. Officials did not say how the fire began.

Bolingbrook, Bristol Kendall, Lockport, Naperville, Oswego and Troy firefighters assisted on the scene, as did the Plainfield Police Department, Plainfield Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross. Crews from Aurora Township, Channahon, Homer and Minooka fire departments provided station coverage.