At approximately 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, the Wheaton Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 200 block of South Washington. Upon arrival, fire crews identified smoke issuing from the windows on a large single-family residence. The fire was located in the basement, but it had extended to all floors, including the attic.
The fire was brought under control within 45 minutes. The home was unoccupied at the time of the fire. The fire was originally reported to 911 by a passerby witness. The fire and smoke caused extensive damage throughout the structure.
Investigators from the Wheaton Fire Department conducted a fire investigation. The cause of the fire is deemed accidental and appears to have been related to the clothes dryer. Damage estimates are unavailable at this time. The City of Wheaton Building Department was on the scene. The Wheaton Fire Department was also assisted on the scene by the Wheaton Police Department and numerous fire departments from neighboring communities. The building was turned back over to the property owner after the fire and the building was deemed uninhabitable.