A large storage barn was severely damaged by a fire Monday (Aug. 14, 2017) at 37W260 Kaneville Road in unincorporated Geneva Township near Geneva’s west side.

The Kaneville Road fire is the fourth structure fire in the Geneva / St. Charles area in the past 18 days.

The Geneva Fire Department was dispatched at about 9:06 p.m. for a reported structure fire. The storage barn was unoccupied but did house a boat and pick-up truck.

First arriving companies found thick smoke coming from the east side of the structure with heavy flames visible from the interior.  According to a city of Geneva news release, firefighters initiated a defensive attack, and elevated the initial response to a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System first-level box alarm for additional manpower, equipment and resources.

The fire was brought under control in about 40 minutes.

Two firefighters were treated for dehydration and released at the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Damage estimates still are being compiled, but the storage barn and contents sustained significant damage.

Firefighters from Batavia, St. Charles, Elburn, West Chicago, Fermilab and the North Aurora fire departments assisted Geneva at the scene. The South Elgin and Winfield fire departments filled in the Geneva fire stations during the call.

Additional support was provided by the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, Kane County Office of Emergency Management, Geneva Police Department, Commonwealth Edison, Salvation Army and the Geneva Public Works Department.

SOURCE: city of Geneva news release

4th Fire Since July 29

The Kaneville Road fire is the fourth reported in a five-mile radius in the cities of Geneva and St. Charles since July 29.

On July 29, St. Charles firefighters battled a garage fire at 409 McKinley St. in which the body of Frank Nezrick, Jr., 80, was found. Nezrick was the resident of the home. Fire loss in the McKinley Street fire was estimated at $100,000.

On July 31, the St. Charles Fire Department and 18 others joined forces to fight a box-alarm garage fire at 314 Indiana St. The Indiana Street fire spread to three vehicles, two houses, a neighbor’s garage, causing about $385,000 to the structures, vehicles and contents, according to a St. Charles Fire Department news release.

On Aug. 10, a detached garage was severely damaged by fire at 1022 Geneva Drive on Geneva’s east side. No one was injured from the fire.

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