A resident was hospitalized and a firefighter was also injured after a fire engulfed a house in Ingleside. Firefighters rescued a cat from the home.
The Fox Lake Fire Protection District responded around 10:06 p.m. to the 36400 block of North Maple Avenue in Ingleside for a report of a structure fire.
Firefighters arrived to find flames and smoke showing from the residence.
Initial crews made an aggressive attack inside the home in an attempt to extinguish the fire.
Fox Lake Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Tom Preidis said the fire got into hidden areas of the home, including the walls and attic.
Firefighters had to exit the house and go into defensive mode because the flames were over their heads, Preidis said.
The home is located in an area that does not have fire hydrants close by.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the box alarm level to bring additional fire department personnel to the scene from area departments.
Residents that were home at the time of the fire were able to escape before firefighters arrived, Preidis said.
One of the residents suffered smoke inhalation and was transported by ambulance to the hospital.
A firefighter suffered a minor injury while fighting the fire and was treated at the scene.
Preidis said firefighters rescued at least one cat. It is unknown if any other pets were inside.
Approximately a dozen fire departments responded to the scene.
The fire is believed to have started on the first floor but the cause remains under investigation, Preidis added.
The home was heavily damaged and deemed uninhabitable.