McHENRY, Ill. (STMW) – Officials in northwest suburban McHenry are investigating an early Thursday garage fire that caused about $40,000 in damage and appeared to be suspicious.

Firefighters were dispatched to the blaze at 2401 Delor Drive in McHenry about 5:10 a.m. and found a fire in a garage attached to a two story, single family residence, according to Lt. Dave Huemann of the McHenry Township Fire Protection District. A neighbor who lives behind the home saw the flames and called 911, he said.

Crews used about 500 gallons of water to get the fire under control in a matter of minutes, Huemann said.

The blaze did about $40,000 in damage to the structure, but no one was hurt, the lieutenant said. The home is currently between owners and was unoccupied when the fire started.

The fire seemed to start on the outside of the structure and initially appeared to be suspicious, the lieutenant said.

McHenry County investigators were summoned to the scene and an investigation is ongoing, he said.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2011. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)