Electrical storm believed cause of house fire causing $150k in damage
A Naperville home sustained $150,000 in damage and was deemed uninhabitable following a fire believed started by an electrical storm about 11:30 p.m. Sunday, the Naperville Fire Department said.
Firefighters arrived at the house in the 2000 block of Schumacher Lane to find visible smoke and flames coming from the roof, a fire department news release said. The fire upgraded to a general alarm in order to bring in additional help, including one heavy rescue vehicle, an additional medic, ladder truck and engine beyond the two engines, ladder truck, medic unit, and two battalion commanders already on the scene.
The house owner and their family were home at the time and able to exit the home before the fire department arrived, the release said. They were not injured, nor were any firefighters.
It took about 15 minutes to control the fire and another hour to “ensure the residence was secured,” the release said.
Due to the extent of the damage, the famly was not allowed to return to the house, officials said.
WNV-infected mosquitoes, bird found in five Will County locations
More batches of West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes and one infected bird have been found in Will County, according to the health department.
The infected mosquitoes were located in Joliet, Homer Glen, Shorewood and Lockport. The dead bird was in Crest Hill, a news release said.
Officials found the first batch of infected mosquitoes in Joliet traps in mid-June.
No human cases of West Nile virus have been reported so far this year, but contracting it can be dangerous, especially to seniors and those with weakened immune systems.
“With the virus appearing earlier this year following a milder winter and spring, I urge everyone to fight the bite in their communities,” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in the release. “Please reduce exposures, wear insect repellent while outdoors and report any standing water around your community where mosquitoes can breed.”
WNV is transmitted to birds through the bite of an infected mosquito, the release said. Mosquitos also can become infected by biting infected birds.
If you find a dead bird on your property, call the Will County Health Department’s Environmental Health West Nile Surveillance Hotline at 815-740-7631 to determine if the bird should be sent in for testing.
For more information, go to www.cdc.gov/westnile or dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/west-nile-virus.html.
