Fire at Single-Family Home on Catherine Avenue

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — At 9:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17, Naperville’s Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) received a call for smoke in a two-story, single-family home located in the 1100 Block of Catherine Avenue. Naperville 911 (PSAP) dispatched a response consisting of six pieces of fire apparatus and 13 personnel, including an incident commander and incident safety officer, to the reported address.

At 9:24 p.m., Engine 1 arrived on scene and found nothing showing from the exterior. Investigation of the interior showed smoke conditions increasing in the residence. The residence was evacuated, and a general alarm assignment was requested to bring an additional four pieces of fire apparatus to the scene with an additional nine personnel. It was found that the furnace, located in the crawl space, had malfunctioned and was the source of the fire.

Companies on scene deployed a hoseline and extinguished the fire within minutes of arrival. Companies remained on scene to remove smoke throughout the home and control utilities.

The Naperville Fire Department was assisted on the scene by the Naperville Police and Electric departments. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. There were no injuries to the two adults and three children living at the residence or firefighters while operating on scene. The building was deemed to be uninhabitable by the Naperville Transportation, Engineering, and Development Team. Residents were relocated for the night. The fire is estimated to have caused $50,000 in damage.

About Naperville: Located 28 miles west of Chicago, Naperville, Ill., is home to approximately 150,000 people. This vibrant, thriving city consistently ranks as a top community in the nation in which to live, raise children and retire. The city is home to acclaimed public and parochial schools, the best public library system in the country, an array of healthcare options and an exceptionally low crime rate. Naperville has ready access to a variety of public transportation, housing and employment options. The city’s diversified employer base features high technology firms, retailers and factories, as well as small and home-based businesses. Residents also enjoy world-class parks, diverse worship options, the opportunity to serve on several City boards and commissions, a thriving downtown shopping and dining area, a renowned outdoor history museum known as Naper Settlement and an active civic community. For more information, please visit our website at www.naperville.il.us.