Investigators: Huntley House Fire Accidental

The fire that destroyed a farmhouse on the outskirts of Huntley on Monday night has been ruled accidental.

Huntley Deputy Fire Chief Keith Mallegni said the house fire at 39W596 Huntley Road started in a second-floor bedroom at about 6 p.m. A minor occupant of the house was working on a school project and accidentally started the fire, Mallegni said.

“There was no malice involved,” Mallegni said. “It was purely accidental.”

Mallegni said all of the family members who were home when the blaze erupted made it out of the house safely. Fire and smoke detectors all were working properly in the home, he said.

The old house sits on the front of the property. Behind the house is a garage and barn, which is home to the Huntley Equine and Small Animal Clinic owned by veterinarian David C. Hucek. The clinic and other buildings on the property were not affected by the fire.

The house was built in the early to mid-1800s, Mallegni said. So far, investigators do not have a final cost estimate of the damage. Due to the extensive damage from the fire, the house is uninhabitable, he said.

Nearly 20 area fire departments responded to the Monday night blaze, as no fire hydrants are available in the open farmland area, which is southeast of Huntley just before St. Mary Catholic Church. Some departments brought in water tanker trucks.

Mallegni said most residential fires are accidental. Many are started by candles and hurricane lanterns left unattended. Others, he said, are caused by frayed electrical cords or electrical appliances.

“People should never run their dishwasher, washer and dryer and other appliances while they’re not home,” Mallegni said. “It’s all about maintenance. If an appliance has been recalled, get it fixed. Clean out your dryer lint traps. It’s very rare to see a fire that’s not accidental.”