One firefighter was treated during an extra-alarm fire that engulfed part of a large 10,000-square-foot home in Lakemoor, prompting the response of dozens of fire departments.
The McHenry Township Fire Protection District responded around 1:25 p.m. Friday to the 2200 block of Cuhlman Road in Lakemoor for a report of a structure fire.
McHenry Township Fire Protection District David Harwood said crews arrived to find a “very large” three-story house with flames showing.
The fire engulfed the home’s attached garage and the blaze extended up the wood shaker shingle roof and into the third floor.
Firefighters began extinguishing the fire and simultaneously searching the 10,000-square-foot residence for occupants, Harwood said.
It was later determined that all occupants had exited safely.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated and elevated to the third alarm level.
Harwood said the fire was difficult to extinguish because of the size of the residence and the heat and humidity.
The area also has no fire hydrants so firefighters had to haul in water using tender fire trucks.
27 fire departments responded to the scene and assisted in covering calls in McHenry during the incident.
One firefighter was evaluated by paramedics for heat exhaustion but did not need to be transported, Harwood said. There were no other injuries.
The house was deemed uninhabitable and a damage estimate was not immediately available.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.