Firefighters from numerous fire departments work for hours to extinguish a fire that caused extensive damage to the former Ramada Inn, 200 North Green Bay Road in Waukegan, Wednesday afternoon. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

The vacant Ramada Inn hotel in Waukegan sustained extensive damage Wednesday during an hours-long extra-alarm fire that is suspected to be arson, authorities said.

The Waukegan Fire Department responded around 4:40 p.m. Wednesday to the former Ramada Inn, 200 North Green Bay Road in Waukegan, for a report of a structure fire.

Dispatchers received several 911 calls for smoke coming from the west side of the building, according to Waukegan Fire Marshal Todd Zupec.

Firefighters encountered heavy fire showing at the rear of the building on the first floor extending to the second floor.

Firefighters from numerous fire departments work for hours to extinguish a fire that caused extensive damage to the former Ramada Inn, 200 North Green Bay Road in Waukegan, Wednesday afternoon. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

Zupec said a defensive attack, which is when firefighters stay outside the building to extinguish the fire, was initiated due to the building being vacant for several years.

It took many firefighters to gain access to the building due to the doors and windows being boarded up.

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The response was upgraded to the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) to the second alarm level bringing firefighters from Lake County to the scene and to cover Waukegan fire stations.

Fire crews worked extensively to get access and extinguish the fire with hose lines from the exterior, Zupec said.

Firefighters from numerous fire departments work for hours to extinguish a fire that caused extensive damage to the former Ramada Inn, 200 North Green Bay Road in Waukegan, Wednesday afternoon. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

Waukegan and Gurnee ladder trucks were used to apply water to fire that had burned through the roof.

The MABAS response was struck out around 9:30 p.m. Zupec said Waukegan firefighters remained on the scene for several hours to extinguish remaining hot spots.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire to one of the five buildings that make up the hotel complex.

Zupec said the building sustained extensive damage to the first and second floors. A damage estimate was not immediately available.

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“This building has been vacant for many years and has a history of squatters entering and staying in the building,” Zupec said.

Firefighters from numerous fire departments work for hours to extinguish a fire that caused extensive damage to the former Ramada Inn, 200 North Green Bay Road in Waukegan, Wednesday afternoon. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

A preliminary investigation showed the fire was possibly intentionally set.

A firefighter was treated for exhaustion at the scene but did not require transport to the hospital, Zupec said. No other injuries were reported.

The Beach Park, Deerfield, Gurnee, Mundelein, North Chicago, Lake Villa, Libertyville, Newport, Zion and Grayslake assisted during the incident.

In February 2022, a person spotted smoke coming from the building and called 911. Firefighters arrived to find flames showing from one of the rooms on the second floor in the rear of the structure.