Resident Snuffs Out Batavia Basement Fire Late Sunday

An electrical arc caused by pinched wire was the cause of a basement fire in Batavia late Sunday, officials said.

Firefighters at 10:52 p.m. were dispatched to the home at 127 N. Mallory St. on the city's west side, according to a Batavia Fire Department press release.

The first fire crew found moderate to heavy smoke in the basement with light smoke on the first floor. The occupant threw pails of water on the burning material prior to the crew's arrival. No one was hurt in the incident.

This was the second reported fire over the weekend in Batavia. To read about the first fire, which took place on Saturday, click .

The Fire Department determined the cause of the fire to be an electrical arc caused by pinched wire between a porcelain light base and a metal electrical box on the ceiling. 

The incident caused an estimated $10,000 in structural damages, according to the release.

A cat was removed safely from the basement by firefighters. Occupants of the home were alerted to the fire by an activated smoke detector.

Firefighters checked for any extension of the fire and found none. They removed smoke from the home with fans.

About the Crews

There were a total of 30 fire personnel at the scene. The following fire departments provided assistance:

• Elburn
• Geneva
• North Aurora
• St. Charles