The coroner said Tuesday they have not yet been able to positively identify a body recovered from the site of a three-alarm fire that engulfed and destroyed a house in Hawthorn Woods.
The Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department responded around 3:10 p.m. Saturday to the 0-100 block of Rosewood Drive in Hawthorn Woods for a report of a structure fire.
A 911 caller reported seeing smoke and flames from the residence. Firefighters reported seeing a header of smoke from a distance as they responded.
Lake Zurich Fire Chief David Pilgard said crews arrived to find a house heavily involved in flames.
Pilgard said the fire had a “significant start ahead” of firefighters.
A defensive search of the home was conducted in an attempt to see if anyone was inside, Pilgard said.
Fire crews also conducted a defensive fire attack — using hose lines from the outside of the home.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the third alarm level, bringing in dozens of fire departments from Lake, McHenry and Cook counties.
Pilgard said two water supplies were set up. The fire occurred in a neighborhood that does not have fire hydrants and fire tender trucks had to be called to haul water to the scene.
“Unfortunately, the community doesn’t have fire hydrants so you see the extensive operation with all of the help we called in order to extinguish the fire,” Pilgard said at the scene.
A ladder truck and multiple hose lines flowed water to extinguish the fire.
Firefighters were challenged by an electric vehicle fire in the garage while simultaneously fighting the main source of the fire.
The fire did not spread to any neighboring residences. “Here in Hawthorn Woods these homes are on acre or larger lots, so we did not have any challenges by neighboring homes or exposures,” Pilgard said.
Firefighters and investigators remained on the scene well into the evening and returned Sunday morning, staying at the scene for much of Sunday.
The wood-frame single-family home was heavily damaged. A damage estimate was not immediately available.
Pilgard said eight fire investigators from the MABAS Division 4 Fire Investigation Task Force responded.
The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal was also called to assist in the investigation, which the Hawthorn Woods Police Department is also involved.
Pilgard said late Saturday evening that one person, a family member who was not believed to be a resident of the home, was unaccounted for. No firefighter injuries were reported.
“It’s always sad when someone loses their home. It is a big challenge to us when we get here and the fire has extended so much for us to be able to save someone’s home,” Pilgard said.
An excavator was called and crews were conducting debris removal and pumping out water from the home’s basement while searching for the area of fire origin.
Pilgard told Lake and McHenry County Scanner in an update that crews recovered a body at the scene on Sunday.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek said that an autopsy was conducted on Tuesday and results are pending further studies, toxicology testing, including carbon monoxide levels, and other investigation.
Banek said the deceased victim will be positively identified through further scientific examination, including dental comparison, in the coming days.
The victim, who was discovered Sunday afternoon, is believed to be an adult male. It is unknown yet if it is the same person who was unaccounted for.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.