Fire damages DG Twp. townhome

Fire investigators say that food left cooking on the stove of a townhouse in unincorporated Downers Grove overnight led to a fire Wednesday morning that caused $5,000 in damage and sent sent two women to a hospital.

About 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Darien-Woodridge Fire District received a fire alarm signal for a townhouse at 7354 Winthrop Way, in in unincorporated Downers Grove. While enroute to the call, according to a release from the Fire District, fire personnel were updated that there was fire in one of the units.

Firefighters got to the scene five minutes later, and they found a fire in the kitchen, with a lot of smoke in the unit. While fire extinguishment efforts were being conducted, another team searched the unit and found a semi-conscious female on the second floor that firefighters removed to an ambulance for treatment. Another woman, who was not injured, was also located in the basement of this unit. Both were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove for further treatment and observation.

The fire was contained to the stove and the cabinet above it. Investigators believe the fire was caused by food left cooking on the stove from the previous night. Damage estimates are being placed at $5,000.

Fire officials stress that the fire could have been much larger, and the fire injuries would have been fatalities, had the building not been equipped with a working fire alarm system.

Darien-Woodridge units were assisted at the scene by the Downers Grove and Westmont fire departments.