Sunday morning fire in Woodstock

Sunday morning's fire in Woodstock wasn't important enough to merit a photo n the Northwest Herald, so here's a picture of the house. It's at 843 N. Seminary, at the corner of Todd Avenue. The house is currently boarded up, all except for a window on the south side.

Several years ago I lived in the neighborhood of this house. Renters often didn't stay long or take very care of the property. A wooden door on the back of the house was partially rotted out. There were often many cars, not all in operating condition, parked in the driveway. Tenants seemed to stay a fairly short time, and there seemed to be large families or large number of tenants in that house.

How does a fire start in a bedroom at 4:30AM of a house that is empty? Supposedly, the tenants were on vacation. According to the paper, the house is now uninhabitable. Was there plenty of fire insurance on it?

Woodstock Fire Rescue called in other departments, and firefighters from Marengo, Hebron, Wonder Lake, McHenry, Harvard and Huntley responded.

I'm sure MABAS box alarms are a good deal when really necessary, but did SIX other departments have to be called in for a house fire that was under control in 20 minutes?

I'm sure the "professional" firefighters will have some opinions, most of which won't ever be submitted. Aren't there some professionals who question the need for seven departments at one house that is on fire?

How quickly will the City act to require rebuilding or demolition? Will this house be rebuilt? Or will it sit for months or years as an eyesore on the corner of Seminary and Todd Avenues?