Embers from a backyard controlled burn are believed to have caused a massive fire that destroyed a large home in Long Grove Thursday afternoon, officials said.
The Long Grove Fire Protection District and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 1:50 p.m. Thursday to the 3100 block of Cuba Road for a report of a structure fire.
Lake County Sheriff Spokesman Lt. Christopher Covelli said that the homeowners were doing some brush burning in their backyard.
Officials believe an ember or embers from that fire likely ignited the home’s roof that caught fire.
Dozens of fire departments were called to the scene after the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated.
Sheriff’s deputies closed Cuba Road between South Krueger Road and Old McHenry Road as firefighters responded to the scene.
The homeowner sustained a minor injury when a ladder he was using to try and extinguish the fire fell on him, injuring his forehead, Covelli said.
No firefighters or other residents were injured.
The blaze left the 6,000 square foot single-family residence uninhabitable and heavily damaged.
Investigators do not believe the fire is suspicious in nature but it remains under investigation.