A dog died and an occupant was injured after a fire broke out in a house in Zion, sending flames and smoke erupting from the second floor Tuesday evening.
The Zion Fire and Rescue Department responded around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday to the 2300 block of Elizabeth Avenue for a report of a structure fire.
Zion Fire and Rescue Department Lt. Ian Kennedy said crews arrived to find smoke and fire showing from the second-floor windows.
Occupants on an adjacent first-floor flat roof were attempting to use a garden hose to extinguish the fire.
They were also attempting to enter a window to rescue a pet, Kennedy said. Other occupants were attempting to re-enter the first-floor door.
Police and firefighters had to remove them and keep them out to ensure their safety.
Kennedy said the occupants attempting to re-enter the building to search for pets was dangerous and resulted in a delay in firefighters conducting their own searches and extinguishing the fire.
Once the residents were away from the door and off the roof, crews made entry with a hose line and the fire was extinguished.
Multiple searches were performed for trapped occupants and pets, Kennedy said.
A pet was located and removed. Firefighters began performing resuscitation efforts and administered oxygen but the dog had died.
One person suffered minor smoke inhalation and was evaluated at the scene but did not require transport to the hospital.
Kennedy said extensive overhaul operations were conducted on the home to ensure the fire was fully extinguished and to ensure no hot spots remained.
Firefighters from Beach Park, Winthrop Harbor, Pleasant Prairie and Newport responded to the scene. The Waukegan, North Chicago and Antioch fire departments covered Zion fire stations.
The cause of the fire, which originated on the second floor, is still under investigation but investigators are looking into an unattended candle that was possibly burning, Kennedy said.
The home was severely damaged and $75,000 in damage was estimated.
The fire department said residents should never leave burning candles unattended, ensure they have working smoke detectors and never go back inside a burning home for anything.