A three-alarm fire prompted the response of nearly two dozen fire departments and left a home destroyed near Wauconda late Monday evening, fire officials said.
The Wauconda Fire District and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 11:06 p.m. Monday to the 25500 block of West Ivanhoe Road in unincorporated Wauconda for a report of a structure fire.
Wauconda Fire District Battalion Chief John Spratt said firefighters arrived on the scene in four minutes.
They found flames extending from the roof of a home, which is located off of Old Rand Road.
Spratt said the residence was fully involved in flames within minutes and efforts were made to protect neighboring homes.
The residents were able to escape the home unharmed.
Windy conditions and lack of fire hydrants hampered extinguishment efforts, Spratt said.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the third alarm level due to the volume of fire and lack of water.
The home was deemed a total loss and the residents will be staying with family members until other arrangements are made.
Damage is estimated at approximately $500,000 and the cause of the fire is under investigation, Spratt said.
The Antioch, Barrington, Barrington-Countryside, Buffalo Grove, Cary, Countryside, Crystal Lake, Fox Lake, Fox River Grove, Lake Villa, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, McHenry, Mundelein, Nunda Rural, Prospect Heights, Richmond, Round Lake, Spring Grove, Wonder Lake and Woodstock fire departments assisted.
The Wauconda Fire District said residents should ensure their smoke alarms are properly working and that they have a family home fire escape plan.