A fire sent flames from the roof of a commercial building in downtown Wauconda and caused $250,000 in damage while prompting several fire departments to respond Sunday evening.
The Wauconda Fire District and Wauconda Police Department responded around 6:25 p.m. Sunday to 205 South Main Street in Wauconda for a report of a commercial structure fire.
Wauconda Fire District Battalion Chief Adam Schlick said fire crews arrived and found smoke showing from the roof of a single-story commercial building.
The building had a business — a-Adams School of Driving — in the front and a single residential apartment in the rear.
Schlick said a full assessment of the entire building confirmed there was an active fire on the roof.
Firefighters quickly deployed ground ladders to access the roof and had water on the fire within four minutes of arrival.
The fire was located around rooftop air conditioning units, Schlick said.
The fire required extensive overhaul operations, including the removal of portions of the roof decking to ensure the fire was completely extinguished.
An occupant of the apartment in the building safely self-evacuated prior to fire department’s arrival.
No injuries were reported to anyone in the building or to firefighters.
There was one resident who lived in the apartment at the rear of the building. He was left displaced due to the power being shut off in the building.
The residence also had smoke damage but the fire damage was contained to the roof and the utility room under where the fire occurred.
Firefighters also checked adjoining buildings for fire extension and potential smoke damage.
No significant fire extension was found. Damage was preliminarily estimated at $250,000.
The Wauconda Fire District was assisted at the scene by the Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department, Countryside Fire Protection District, Fox Lake Fire Protection District, Grayslake Fire Protection District and Nunda Rural Fire Protection District.
The Barrington Fire Department and Fox River Grove Fire District provided station coverage for Wauconda during the incident.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Wauconda Fire District.