Historic Illinois home suffers heavy fire damage
A historic house in Wheaton, Illinois, is reportedly a total loss after sustaining significant damage following a fire this week.
When firefighters first arrived at the scene, they encountered heavy flames on the home's attached porch, which quickly spread up to the roof of the home, causing major damage to the structure.
The owners, who will soon be filing a homeowners insurance claim, had only recently purchased the property this past summer from a real estate agent who had restored it, the Daily Herald reports. They were away at the time, while a new kitchen was being installed.
Despite the ongoing construction work, firefighters said they were unsure how the fire may have started. The real estate agent who sold it told the paper the new owners plan to rebuild the property.
The 133-year-old house reportedly once served as one of the many homes for famed engineer and Chicago resident Charles Strobel. The property, along with others like it, was built near the Chicago Golf Club, which is the oldest 18-hole course in North America.
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