A garage became fully engulfed in flames after it caught fire just feet away from a house, which only sustained minor damage thanks to firefighters’ quick actions near Gurnee Sunday evening.
The Gurnee Fire Department, Grayslake Fire Protection District, Beach Park Fire Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 7:40 p.m. Sunday to the 16800 block of West Sibelius Lane in unincorporated Gurnee for a report of a structure fire.
Responding deputies and firefighters could see flames from a distance coming from a detached garage.
When they arrived, they found the garage was fully engulfed in flames, Gurnee Battalion Fire Chief Nick Perry said.
Firefighters pulled two hose lines and quickly brought the fire under control within about seven minutes after arriving.
A Working Still Alarm was requested, bringing in additional apparatus from nearby fire departments to the scene and to provide coverage for the Gurnee Fire Department.
A water tender from the Beach Park Fire Department responded because the area does not have fire hydrants.
The residents of the house, which is about five feet away from the garage, escaped without injury, Perry said.
The garage was heavily damaged, but the home only sustained minor damage and remains habitable, Perry said.
North Shore Gas and ComEd responded to tend to utilities.
Perry credited the quick actions of the first arriving firefighters for quickly attacking the garage fire and preventing significant damage to the house itself.
“The first crew arriving – Engine 132 – they did very well,” Perry said.
Fire investigators will return to the scene on Monday to look into what exactly caused the blaze.
A damage estimate was not immediately available.