Cause of Santos Avenue Fire in Channahon Remains a Mystery

An investigation into what caused a fire that left a family of three homeless is ongoing, Channahon Fire Protection District chief John Petrakis said.

He said firefighters worked from 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Saturday to battle a blaze at 212 Santos Avenue in Channahon. When flames finally were extinguished, a family of three was left homeless and wondering where to turn next.

“The damage to the house is very extensive,” Petrakis said. “I don’t know if it’s a complete loss. That’s something the homeowners will have to resolve with their insurance agent.”

Petrakis said no one was injured in the fire at the home of a family of three—a mother, a father and one adult son. He said the two parent homeowners were out of town on vacation at the time of the call for help on Saturday and the son was not home.

One cat was rescued—unharmed—by firefighters.

“Our initial crews tried to access the home from the back side of the residence,” Petrakis said. “Eventually, they gained access to the interior. But they found the fire conditions were too extensive and had to back out. We then went with an aerial attack from the rear of the home with a ladder.”

Petrakis said firefighters eventually were able to put out the fire and then they remained on the scene to assist with the overhaul of the site and the preliminary work of the investigation unit. He said Channahon Fire was one of 12 agencies on the scene working to extinguish the blaze and there was concern for some time over whether hot flashes in the attic and walls of the house would rekindle the fire.

What caused the blaze remains an unanswered question.

“I can tell you it remains under investigation—nothing further,” Petrakis said.