A homeowner was transported to the hospital after he and neighbors rescued a dog from a home that was damaged when a garage became fully engulfed in flames near Spring Grove Sunday afternoon.
The Spring Grove Fire Protection District responded around 1:45 p.m. Sunday to the 6300 block of North Shore Avenue in unincorporated Spring Grove for a report of a structure fire.
Multiple 911 calls reported that a structure was on fire and fully engulfed in flames and smoke, according to Spring Grove Fire Protection District Chief Paul Klicker.
Fox Lake firefighters and Spring Grove firefighters arrived within seconds of each other and confirmed a two-car detached garage was fully engulfed in flames.
Klicker said the male homeowner used a fire extinguisher through a service door to try to control the fire and suffered a burn to the side of his head.
The homeowner and neighbors were able to get a dog out of the house before firefighters arrived.
The fire occurred in an area that does not have fire hydrants immediately nearby and a rural water supply was established.
Firefighters quickly began extinguishing the fire and were able to prevent it from spreading to the house.
Initial 911 callers reported that ammunition was inside and explosions were heard.
Klicker said it is believed that aerosol paint cans blew up, causing the loud noises.
The garage was a total loss and a damage estimate was not immediately available. No vehicles were inside but there were lawnmowers and other property that was destroyed.
The house, which remains habitable, sustained broken windows from the heat and a board-up company responded to shore up the structure.
The Spring Grove, McHenry, Round Lake, Hebron, Wonder Lake, Antioch and Richmond fire departments assisted at the scene. The Grayslake, Salem Lakes and Twin Lakes fire departments covered Spring Grove’s fire station.
The cause of the fire was not known and remains under investigation by the Spring Grove Fire Protection District.