The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal is investigating after firefighters found a person deceased inside a burning home in Lake in the Hills late Saturday evening.
The Huntley Fire Protection District responded around 11:28 p.m. Saturday to the 3000 block of Impressions Drive in Lake in the Hills for a call of a structure fire.
Huntley Fire Protection District Deputy Fire Chief Patrick Fortunato said firefighters arrived to find a two-story duplex residence with heavy smoke showing from the rear of the building.
Initial reports from 911 callers and witnesses indicated that a resident was possibly still inside the home.
Firefighters started to search for the victim while the second arriving crew started to work on the fire attack utilizing hose lines from one engine and securing water from a nearby fire hydrant, Fortunato said.
Additional fire companies arrived on the scene and began working to assist in search and fire extinguishment efforts.
Firefighters located a person on the second floor of the home.
It was determined the person was deceased due to their injuries, Fortunato said.
The remainder of the home was searched and no other occupants were found.
The fire was located on the first and second floors of the home.
The fire spread through the two-story structure causing heavy damage. The home also sustained smoke damage throughout.
Fortunato said firefighters worked for approximately 15 minutes with their hose line to bring the fire under control.
Crews continued to work for another 30 minutes completing overhaul operations to make sure that the fire was completely extinguished.
The home was equipped with smoke detectors but it is unknown yet if they were working at the time of the fire, Fortunato said.
Firefighters from Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Hampshire, Woodstock, Fox River Grove and Marengo responded to the scene or covered calls in Huntley.
The McHenry County Coroner’s Office is in the process of scheduling an autopsy on the victim.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Huntley Fire Protection District, Lake in the Hills Police Department and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal.
An initial damage estimate to the structure and contents was $200,000. The home was deemed uninhabitable.