A family was left homeless after someone was burning logs outside of a house and caught the home on fire, leaving the residence with damage throughout in Fox Lake, fire officials said.
The Fox Lake Fire Protection District responded around 4:58 p.m. Sunday to the 0-100 block of Elm Avenue in Fox Lake for a report of a structure fire.
A 911 caller reported an outside fire caught the rear of the house on fire, according to fire department radio traffic.
Fox Lake Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Ted Damos said fire crews arrived in four minutes and found a two-story, single-family home with smoke showing from the rear.
Crews performed a 360-degree view of the home and found that an exterior fire had caught the siding on fire.
Damos said it appeared there was a bonfire with logs burning.
The fire extended into the home from the siding, resulting in a bedroom and its contents catching fire.
The residents escaped the home safely and reported their smoke detectors had activated. They were uninjured, Damos said.
Firefighters made entry to the front door of the home and had the fire under control within approximately five minutes.
Damos said fire crews conducted salvage and overhaul operations to check for fire extension but found none.
They remained on the scene for approximately an hour and a half. No firefighter injuries were reported.
While the home was deemed uninhabitable due to smoke damage, Damos said firefighters extinguished the blaze relatively quickly and prevented further damage. A board-up service was called to shore up the home.
At least two adults and a child were displaced. No pets were believed to be involved, Damos said.
The Antioch, Spring Grove, Round Lake and Wauconda fire departments assisted the Fox Lake Fire Protection District.
A damage estimate was not immediately available and the fire remains under investigation.