20 displaced after Palatine apartment building fire

Twenty people were in need of shelter Saturday morning after a fire broke out in an apartment building in northwest suburban Palatine.

Firefighters responded to the blaze shortly after 6 a.m. at the two-story, eight-unit building in the 800 block of West Panorama Drive in Palatine, according to a statement from the Palatine Fire Department.

The fire was under control by 6:39 a.m., fire officials said. No firefighters were injured in the blaze, but three residents were assessed by paramedics and did not require hospitalization. The fire was fought by 30 firefighters manning four engines, two ladder trucks, one rescue squad, and four ambulances, along with six command officers.

Several apartments were left uninhabitable and the American Red Cross was called to the scene to assist 20 people with housing, fire officials said.

The cause of the blaze is thought to be accidental in nature, fire officials said.