Firefighters assisted residents and animals out of homes after a fire broke out and caused significant damage to a townhome while also leaving a second townhome uninhabitable in Gurnee.
The Gurnee Fire Department responded around 12:56 p.m. Tuesday to the area of Kensington Court and Yorkshire Court in Gurnee for a report of a structure fire.
Firefighters arrived and found flames and smoke coming from the chimney area on the north side of a two-story, multi-family residence in the 200 block of Kensington Court.
Gurnee Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Steffens said the fire was believed to have been burning for “quite some time” before a passerby spotted it and called 911.
The fire burned through the ceiling from the first floor into the second floor and spread into the attic, Steffens said.
The home where the fire originated was vacant and was listed for sale. No one was inside but the home still had furniture.
Fire crews forced entry and used three hose lines along with foam to extinguish the blaze.
Steffens said firefighters also assisted elderly and disabled residents, along with dogs, from the adjacent units.
It took firefighters approximately 25 minutes to extinguish the fire, which caused significant damage to the origin home.
A second adjoining townhome in the 4400 block of Brighton Court was also left uninhabitable due to smoke and water damage, Steffens said.
Firefighters ventilated carbon monoxide from the townhome units before clearing the scene by 3:15 p.m.
Steffens said no injuries were reported to any residents, firefighters or pets. A damage estimate was not immediately available.
The Waukegan Fire Department and Newport Fire Protection District assisted at the scene.
The American Red Cross was called to assist two adult females who were displaced from the adjacent unit that was deemed uninhabitable, Steffens said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Gurnee Fire Department.