Police Join Downers Grove Fire Investigation Following Reports of Vandalism

Downers Grove police have joined the investigation into the cause of a Saturday house fire at 5310 Meadow Lane after getting reports of a rash of vandalism in the Denburn Woods neighborhood in the hours before the fire.

“There were other incidents that occurred in that general area during the same time, which we’re aware of,” said Sgt. David Bormann. “We are looking into the matter with the fire department.”

Among the police personnel aiding in the fire department’s investigation is a trained arson investigator, Bormann said. “That’s typical for any fire such as this where we’re trying to determine cause.”

Marsha Giesler, the Downers Grove Fire Department public information officer, confirmed the two departments have shared information about the events preceding the fire. "The police and fire departments always communicate as part of any fire. The police were out there the same time as the fire department."

The fire at the large two-story house, owned by the Donald Benson family, was reported at about 4:30 p.m. July 16. Downers Grove firefighters, aided by 10 other departments, battled the blaze for six hours before extinguishing it. The loss is estimated at $1.8 million for the structure plus $750,000 for the home's contents, Giesler said. She said firefighters were able to save a few items including, according to some reports, a pet bird. The family was out of town at the time of the fire.

Earlier in the day, a resident of the block reported a Weber grill and cover valued at $205 had been taken from her rear patio between 8 p.m. July 15 and 4 p.m. July 16. A light fixture valued at $75 and a sundial valued at $25 also were damaged at the home.

Also in the 5300 block of Meadow Lane, three car tires were punctured between 9 p.m. July 15 and 10 a.m. July 16. The owner of the vehicle also told police items from the car’s interior storage compartments were found strewn about the vehicle, but nothing was missing.

More vandalism was reported by a resident of Lindenwald Place near Turvey Road, where car tires, plants and a hose were damage between 9 p.m. July 15 and 7:30 a.m. July 16, according to police reports.

The homeowner discovered tires slashed and mirrors damaged on two cars in the driveway on the north side of the home and two hoses cut and plants uprooted on the south side of the home. Damage was estimated at $850.

While police were in the area, another resident reported a statue in her yard, valued at $200, was toppled from a two-foot-high base. Police also saw a door ajar on another car in the area, but said the owner did not want to add the incident to the police report.  

Giesler said fire department investigators are continuing to search for the cause of the blaze, but it's uncertain how long that will take. "There are some fires where they'll know practically by the next day what the cause was. And there are some where it literally takes weeks to sift through."