An early morning fire Saturday in a building at the Meadowdale Apartments in Carpentersville displaced 23 families and caused about $2 million in damage, village officials said.
One person was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation as a result of the blaze, believed to have started sometime before 12:30 a.m. on the first floor of the building at 104 Meadowdale Court, according to a news release from the Carpentersville Fire Department.
“This is one of the biggest fires we have had in town, that’s for sure,” said Village President John Skillman, a former village fire chief who went out to the scene about 1 a.m. “It’s devastating but fortunately it appears that no one was seriously injured.”
Fire departments from across Kane and McHenry counties responded to the two-alarm fire, the source of which remains under investigation, the release said. While a public works crew had to salt the roads near the apartment because the water used to fight the blaze was freezing, the subsequent snowstorm coming into the area did not start until about 4 a.m., when the fire had already been extinguished, officials said.
The village, with assistance from the Red Cross, was providing temporary shelter for five families at the Public Works Building as of about 9 a.m. Saturday, Skillman said. Officials were anticipating others would be returning home after the Thanksgiving holiday to find themselves without a place to live, he said.
The Carpentersville Moose Lodge also was used as an early holding place for those displaced by the fire. The Public Works Building at 1075 Tamarac will remain open through at least through Sunday to help those who have been displaced and as a location for people to drop off clothing and other items for those who lost possessions in the fire.
The D300 Food Pantry is providing items for those displaced by the fire, according to a village social media post.
Skilliman lauded the village’s fire and police departments for their swift, professional and courageous response.
“Their hard work through the night protected lives, contained the damage and ensured our community remained safe,” Skillman said in a post on Facebook. “Our hearts go out to all those affected, and the village of Carpentersville is already working with partners to ensure everyone has the support and resources they need during this difficult time.”
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
