A large RV motor home caught on fire and became engulfed in flames, causing traffic to be backed up for miles on Interstate 94 near Lake Forest Friday afternoon.
The Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire District was called to the scene of an RV motor home that was on fire in the northbound Interstate 94 between Everett Road and Route 22 at about 3:30 p.m. Friday, Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Battalion Chief Tom Gutknecht said.
No one was injured in the fire, Gutknecht said.
Crews first arriving on the scene found the 35-foot, self-propelled RV fully engulfed in flames, Gutknecht said.
Two northbound lanes and the shoulder were shut down on I-94 while firefighters put out the fire, prompting traffic to back up to the I-294 spur while firefighters battled to extinguish the flames.
Gutknecht said firefighters battled the afternoon heat and the access to the vehicle while trying to put out the flames.
Gutknecht said accessing the RV was extremely difficult because the vehicle was compartmentalized, forcing fire crews to open up every single section of the vehicle while searching for hotspots.
Firefighters also had to climb ladders to access the roof of the RV while seeking hot spots.
In addition, Gutknecht said there was a limited water supply in the area, and tankers had to be brought in from the outside to assist with extinguishing the fire.
The fire was brought under control at about 4 p.m., and firefighters left the scene at about 5:30 p.m.
Fire departments from Wheeling, Lake Forest, Northbrook, and Libertyville assisted the Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District by either providing support at the scene or providing station coverage.
The cause of the fire remains undetermined at this time.