Two extensive house fires that occurred in the Barrington area about the same time over the weekend are unrelated, fire officials said Tuesday.
Late Sunday night, a $1.5 million house under construction in South Barrington was gutted by fire, said Barrington-Countryside Fire Protection Fire Chief David C. Danley.
A short time later, a home in Inverness was reported on fire, said Palatine Rural Protection District Fire Chief Randee Short. The Inverness fire caused an estimated $250,000 in damage, authorities said.
The cause of both fires remained under investigation, but authorities said the blazes appear to be accidental.
It was not until flames broke through the newly installed clay tile roof on a house at 21 Blossom Court in South Barrington that a witness called the fire department, Danley said.
The 14,000-square-foot house, which had been under construction for about 18 months, was due to open in July. It was one of several houses under construction in a new subdivision, authorities said.
On Monday morning, Danley ordered the remaining structure demolished because it was unsafe.
“The fire burned for a considerable amount of time before anybody called us,” Danley said.
Construction crews were working in the house on Sunday, and Danley said investigators were examining whether any electrical equipment or lights may have been left on, he said.
“Nothing jumps up and says, `This is a suspicious fire,’ ” Danley said.
Flames broke out at 2120 Huntley Ave., Inverness, about 1:30 a.m. Monday, Short said. Firefighters worked 90 minutes to douse the fire, Short said.
“There is nothing to indicate that this was suspicious,” Short said.
