One resident was treated and released after an apartment fire in Grayslake Wednesday evening caused seven units to be uninhabitable.
The Grayslake Fire Protection District responded at 5:48 p.m. Wednesday to the 100 block of Glen Street for a report of a structure fire.
A fire was reported in the kitchen of an apartment, according to fire radio traffic.
Grayslake Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Joris Lillge said the first arriving fire unit reported heavy fire coming from a third-floor apartment of a twelve-unit building.
A police officer immediately evacuated residents from the building.
Firefighters then aggressively attacked the fire, Lillge said.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the second alarm level, bringing in around 13 additional firefighting crews to the scene and to Grayslake fire stations to handle other calls during the incident.
Paramedics treated and released the occupant of the fire apartment. There were no other injuries, Lillge said.
The fire was brought under control at 6:36 p.m. and seven apartments were uninhabitable due to fire and water damage.
The American Red Cross assisted residents that were displaced.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Lillge reminds the community of the importance of smoke detectors and escape plans. “In a fire, seconds matter,” he said.