Romeoville house devastated by fire

ROMEOVILLE – A Romeoville home appeared to be destroyed by a fire Tuesday afternoon that spread through the garage and attic.

Several fire trucks from Lockport Township, Romeoville and Plainfield Township fire departments responded to an initial call of a structure fire about 3:20 p.m. at 229 Heather Court, Lockport Township Battalion Chief Frank Blaskey said.

Police and neighbors at the scene reported that occupants of the home were not in the building at the time of the fire. Blaskey said a man who checked to see if anyone was in the house before firefighters responded was treated for smoke inhalation and was not injured.

Neighbors were evacuated by Romeoville police.

The garage was destroyed and charred. Blaskey said the fire in the attic caused heavy damage to the roof of the home.

The fire also caused damage to the siding of the neighboring vacant home to the west, Blaskey said.

Alexandra Andruszkiewicz, who lives three houses west of the home, reported the fire when she saw smoke coming from the garage.

“I was just parking my car,” Andruszkiewicz said. “I saw a lot of smoke. The siding of the garage was coming off.”

Andruszkiewicz waited outside across Heather Court with family along with several other residents of neighboring homes.

When first responders arrived at the scene, Blaskey said they saw a large fire and smoke extending from the garage to the second floor attic.

Smoke was billowing out of the structure as firefighters fought the blaze until about 4:45 p.m.

Blaskey said the cause of the fire is under investigation, and there is no cost estimate for the damage to the home.

“We’re looking at all avenues for what caused that damage,” he said.

The home is located southeast of Wespark Parkway west of Serenity South, a couple of blocks away southeast of Kenneth L. Hermansen Elementary School.