Firefighters rescued several animals while extinguishing a fire that caused $500,000 in damage and left residents displaced from two townhomes in Volo Monday evening.
The Wauconda Fire District responded around 7:05 p.m. Monday to the 1100 block of Piccolo Lane in Volo for a report of a structure fire.
Firefighters arrived in two and a half minutes and found an active deck fire, according to Wauconda Fire District Battalion Chief Jason Daun.
The fire originated in the middle unit of a six-unit townhouse complex.
Daun said the fire began extending into the attic spaces of multiple units.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the box alarm level to bring additional fire departments to the scene.
An initial 911 caller reported people possibly still inside the home but all residents were evacuated.
No injuries were reported to any residents or firefighters. Several animals, consisting of hamsters and lizards, were rescued from the home.
Two of the six townhome units were deemed uninhabitable and the residents were displaced, Daun said.
The Countryside Fire Protection District, Grayslake Fire Protection District, Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department, Mundelein Fire Department, Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District, Fox Lake Fire Protection District and Nunda Rural Fire Protection District responded to the scene to assist.
The Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District, Fox River Grove Fire Protection District, Woodstock Fire/Rescue District and Spring Grove Fire Protection District covered Wauconda fire stations during the incident.
Damage to the building was estimated at $500,000.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation but appears to be accidental in nature, Daun said.