No injuries were reported after an extra-alarm fire ripped through a large banquet and conference center in Crystal Lake early Saturday morning, leaving it a total loss.
The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department responded around 1:24 a.m. Saturday to an activated fire alarm at D’Andrea Banquets and Conference Center, 4419 Northwest Highway.
Two minutes later, a McHenry County sheriff’s deputy reported smoke showing from the building, according to Crystal Lake Fire Chief Paul DeRaedt.
The alarm was quickly upgraded to a working structure fire, which brought additional fire crews to the scene.
The first fire unit arrived on the scene at 1:32 a.m. and attempted to make entry into the building.
Firefighters had to back out due to an impending roof collapse, DeRaedt said. The building was unoccupied at the time of the fire.
Fire crews fought the fire from the exterior of the structure.
A request for mutual aid through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was initiated to the second alarm moments later.
DeRaedt said the fire had quickly spread through multiple areas within the wood-framed building.
Several ladder trucks with hose streams were established around the perimeter of the building to control the fire.
The fire was declared under control just before 5:15 a.m.
The building was not equipped with a fire sprinkler system, DeRaedt said. There were no injuries to any firefighters.
The building is considered a total loss and the building’s owners were at the scene and working with fire investigators.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by Crystal Lake Fire Rescue investigators, other area fire investigators and Crystal Lake police investigators.
“Due to the collapse of portions of the roof, it will be some time before a cause can be determined,” DeRaedt said.