Almost $10,000 has been raised for a family with a newborn baby who lost their belongings after their home was heavily damaged in an extra-alarm fire in Ringwood on Monday.
The McHenry Township Fire Protection District was dispatched around 3:56 p.m. Monday to the 4800 block of Inmans Way in Ringwood for a report of a structure fire.
McHenry Township Fire Protection District Battalion Chief David Harwood said crews arrived to find an active fire in a single-family residence.
Heavy fire was showing from a three-car attached garage and it was starting to spread to the residence.
Firefighters confirmed all residents were out of the house, Harwood said. Crews used two hose lines and began extinguishing the fire.
Due to the rural location, moderate winds and no fire hydrants, the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the second alarm, Harwood said.
The fire was declared under control in approximately 20 minutes.
One resident was evaluated after suffering smoke inhalation but refused transport to a hospital.
Fire departments from Richmond, Spring Grove, Fox Lake, Wonder Lake, Crystal Lake, Woodstock, Wauconda, Fox River Grove, Hebron, Harvard, Grayslake, Mundelein, Huntley, Cary, Nunda-Rural, Round Lake and Lave Villa assisted during the call.
The home has been declared uninhabitable and a damage estimate was not immediately available.
A GoFundMe account created by Ringwood resident Jackie Buchert has already raised $9,200 in two days.
Buchert said that the home was “completely destroyed” and the Smith family’s belongings were also damaged.
“Last January, Pat and Danielle moved into their beautiful home and recently welcomed a sweet baby girl, Lennon, to their family. The entire family was home at the time of the fire, and thankfully they all, including Lily (their dog), were able to evacuate safely. Unfortunately, all of their belongings were lost,” Buchert said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.