Dead Pet, $150K In Damages Result From Basement Fire: Plainfield FD

PLAINFIELD, IL — A family pet died, and a house sustained about $150,000 in damages, after a fire started Sept. 2 in the basement of a residence in the 13500 block of South Meadow Lane, officials said.

Investigators determined the fire was caused by a charging hoverboard, according to a Tuesday news release from Fire Chief Vito Bonomo.

The Western Will County Communication Center received a 911 call at about 1:55 a.m. Monday from a caller reporting a smell of smoke in the home.

The first crews arrived at the house within 6 minutes of the call and found smoke coming from around the basement door. Firefighters deployed a hose line and extinguished the fire contained to one level, according to a news release.

The family, asleep at the time, was alerted of the fire and able to escape due to functioning smoke alarms in the house, officials said. Crews found the family pet dead while conducting a search of the house.

The home was deemed uninhabitable, and Nicor and ComEd were called to the house to secure the utilities.

"The Plainfield Fire Protection District would like to highlight the home having functioning smoke alarms which allowed the family to be alerted of the fire and allowed them to escape," Bonomo wrote in a news release. "We encourage all residents to check their smoke alarms monthly by pressing the test button to ensure they function appropriately."

Plainfield firefighters were assisted on the scene by crews from the Bolingbrook, Lockport, Naperville and Oswego fire departments. Aurora Township, Minooka, Romeoville and Troy personnel provided station coverage.