Firefighters encountered heavy flames and smoke after two houses caught on fire, leaving one resident injured in Mundelein Friday evening, fire officials said.
The Mundelein Fire Department responded around 7:42 p.m. Friday to the 100 block of Walnut Court in Mundelein for a report of a structure fire.
Firefighters arrived and found heavy smoke and flames from the rear of the residence where an attached garage was located.
Mundelein Fire Department Battalion Chief Brad Sashko said firefighters began extinguishing the fire, which had spread to the residence to the south.
The incident was upgraded through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) to the first alarm level due to the fire spreading.
Crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire at the second house, preventing it from extending inside, Sashko said.
The first house sustained exterior damage and the fire extended into the attic space.
Both fires were extinguished by just after 8:30 p.m.
Restoration companies were called to the scene and both homes were deemed uninhabitable, Sashko said.
A resident suffered a minor injury and was evaluated by paramedics. No firefighters were injured.
The fire was fought by 22 firefighters staffing five fire engines, one ladder truck, one quint, two squads and four ambulances that responded to the scene along with three chief officers and three fire investigators.
Firefighters from Countryside, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Arlington Heights, Lake Forest, Lake Zurich, Long Grove, Grayslake and Wauconda assisted.
The Mundelein Police Department assisted with traffic control and assisting residents who were forced out of their homes.
Sashko said the damage is estimated at $200,000 and the cause of the fire is under investigation by the Mundelein Fire Department.