Two elderly residents suffered burn and smoke-inhalation injuries while trying to rescue their cats, who were found dead, after their house caught on fire in Beach Park early Sunday morning.
The Winthrop Harbor Fire Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 3:20 a.m. Sunday to the 12800 block of West 28th Street in Beach Park for a report of a house fire.
The home is located in the Village of Beach Park but is covered by the Winthrop Harbor Fire Department.
Firefighters arrived in minutes and found heavy fire coming from the front and back of the single-story home, Winthrop Harbor Fire Chief Rocco Campanella said.
The two residents at the house, both elderly, were outside with burn and smoke-inhalation related injuries they sustained trying to rescue their cats inside.
Both were transported to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan in fair condition, Campanella said.
“Due to the extent of the fire, a Working Still Alarm and a MABAS Box Alarm were requested for additional assistance from surrounding fire departments.”
Firefighters deployed multiple hose lines to attack the fire.
A fire hydrant down the street was used for a water supply.
The fire was extinguished in around 40 minutes, Campanella said.
Multiple cats were found dead in the home.
The fire left the home with significant damage and it is uninhabitable.
The fire remains under investigation by the Winthrop Harbor Fire Department, and a damage estimate was not immediately available.
“The Winthrop Harbor Fire Department would like to remind residents that properly functioning smoke detectors are essential for early fire detection and helping prevent injuries,” fire officials said.
The Winthrop Harbor Fire Department thanked the surrounding agencies that assisted at the scene.