Condo Fire Started By Child Playing With Lighter Caused Millions In Damage

An estimated $10 million in damage was caused by last week’s devastating fire that affected four connected buildings at the River Trails Condominium complex in Prospect Heights, according to an official report released Wednesday. The fire, which was started accidentally by an 11-year-old boy playing with a lighter in a second-floor unit, caused $4 million in structural damage and $6 million in damage to building contents, the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District report states. One firefighter and two civilians suffered minor injury during the hours-long blaze that was first reported at 1:23 p.m. July 18.