Crystal Lake Basement Fire Renders Downtown Home Uninhabitable

A late-night fire Monday rendered a downtown home uninhabitable, forcing its occupants to seek other shelter.

The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department was called to 60 S. Williams St. at about 11:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8, according to Fire Lt. Richard Kaiser Jr. One of the residents called to report smoke was billowing from the basement.

The older downtown home, which sits at the corner of Williams and Paddock streets, is subdivided into three separate units. 

By the time first responders arrived at the house, all five occupants had exited the home, Kaiser said. Light smoke had filled the first and second floors. Crews initiated what Kaiser called "an offensive interior attack" in the basement, and declared the blaze controlled by 12:02 a.m.

One resident was evaluated at the scene, but was not transported to the hospital, Kaiser said.

The fire damage, estimated at $10,000, was contained to laundry room, but smoke damage spread throughout the house. The basement windows have since been boarded up, and the Crystal Lake Building Department classified the structure as uninhabitable until repairs are made, Kaiser said. 

The five displaced residents are staying with family in the area, Kaiser said. However, on Tuesday a cat sat in the window next to a cage filled with birds. No homeowners answered the door. 

Kaiser said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Several area fire departments responded to the box alarm.