The community is collecting clothes and money for a family who lost everything after one of their dogs started their house on fire, killing both of their dogs, near Spring Grove.
The Fox Lake Fire Protection District responded around 5:15 p.m. Sunday to the 28500 block of West Kendall Avenue in unincorporated Spring Grove.
The family had been gone since around noon and later returned home to find smoke coming from their home’s roof, prompting the 911 call, according to Fox Lake Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Larry VanHoorelbeke.
Firefighters arrived to find a two-story single-family residence with heavy smoke coming from the attic.
It was reported that two dogs were still inside the home but all residents were out of the house, VanHoorelbeke said.
Firefighters made an aggressive attack on the fire and had it under control within a half-hour.
Firefighters had to shuttle water to the scene because the area did not have fire hydrants.
VanHoorelbeke said the two dogs were both rescued from the home and died at the scene.
The fire originated in the kitchen and spread throughout the entire attic.
The home sustained significant damage and was declared uninhabitable, VanHoorelbeke said. An initial damage estimate was $180,000.
VanHoorelbeke said two firefighters and a third person suffered heat exhaustion. They did not require hospitalization and were treated at the scene.
The Lake Villa, Round Lake, Spring Grove and Wauconda fire departments assisted.
The American Red Cross was notified and responded to assist the family who was displaced.
The cause of the fire was accidental. VanHoorelbeke said it is believed one of the dogs in the home turned on a burner to a stovetop while jumping up to reach a pizza box.
Fox Lake resident Tara Martinec said the family has three children, including a young adult and two toddlers. They are currently living at a relative’s home.
The family, who was left with nothing after the fire, is seeking donations of clothes, furniture and other items, as well as money. A GoFundMe account has raised over $2,000 so far for them.