Authorities say a fire broke out and caused significant damage to a house in Wonder Lake on Thanksgiving Day, leaving a family displaced.
The Wonder Lake Fire Protection District and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 11:50 a.m. Thursday to the 4200 block of East Wonder Lake Drive in Wonder Lake for a report of a structure fire.
Wonder Lake Fire Chief Mike Weber said passerbys reported a house was on fire.
Firefighters arrived to find smoke and flames showing from the front window of a single-story house.
Crews performed a 360 walkaround of the home, which had working smoke detectors, and performed a fast attack on the fire, Weber said.
Firefighters used a hose line from the outside to knock down the fire before entering the front door of the residence to continue extinguishment.
A second crew performed a search of the home and found no one inside, Weber said.
The fire was extinguished within minutes and crews remained on the scene for another hour.
The McHenry, Woodstock, Hebron-Alden-Greenwood, Richmond and Spring Grove fire districts assisted at the scene.
Weber said the family was not home at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported to firefighters or pets.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated for crews to cover Wonder Lake’s fire station. The Crystal Lake and Cary fire departments responded to the request.
The Hebron-Alden-Greenwood Fire Protection District and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation.
The fire was deemed accidental and started in the front living room, Weber said.
The residence was deemed uninhabitable due to significant damage, which was estimated at $60,000.
Three adults and a child are being assisted with alternative living arrangements by the American Red Cross.
Weber praised the American Red Cross and said he is glad they are available to residents in need.