Fire leaves Palatine condo building uninhabitable

A fire killed a cat and left a small condominium building in Palatine uninhabitable early Monday, authorities said.

The Palatine Fire Department at 12:32 a.m. responded to the second-floor unit on the 200 block of Jennifer Lane, located near Smith Street and Northwest Highway, according to a news release.

A resident called 911 after finding a fire in his bedroom closet. A fire alarm activated and alerted residents, who escaped unharmed before authorities arrived.

The first crews were on the scene within four minutes and saw flames coming out of the second-floor rear windows and extending to the roof. Firefighters extinguished the blaze within 20 minutes, according to the fire department.

Although the fire was contained to the one condominium, all six units sustained considerable smoke and water damage and were deemed uninhabitable.

Authorities said the cause is under investigation and estimated damage at $200,000.

The Palatine Fire Department reminded residents to have working smoke detectors in their homes and change the batteries twice a year.