Firefighters rescued multiple family pets after they were trapped inside a house that caught on fire, sending flames and smoke through the roof, in Lake Forest Friday afternoon.
The Lake Forest Fire Department responded around 1:58 p.m. Friday to the area of Westleigh Road and Green Bay Road in Lake Forest for a report of an outside smoke investigation.
Lake Forest Deputy Fire Chief Chris Roberts said responding crews were advised that smoke was visible from the roof of a two-story residential home.
A 911 caller reported flames from the roof of the house in the 0-100 block of East Westleigh Road.
The incident commander upgraded the response to a confirmed structure fire assignment after receiving the updated information, Roberts said.
Firefighters arrived and found smoke and flames coming from the second-floor roof area above the garage.
A further investigation revealed an active fire in the attic space over the garage, Roberts said.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to bring additional fire department personnel and resources to the scene due to the large size of the home and the extent of the fire.
Roberts said firefighters learned that two dogs and a cat were trapped inside the home.
Fire crews entered the residence, located the animals and successfully rescued all three pets while simultaneously working to extinguish the fire.
An additional MABAS Box Alarm was later activated to bring numerous fire investigators to the scene from across Lake County, Roberts said.
No injuries were reported to any firefighters or residents. The home has been deemed uninhabitable and the two adult residents and their animals have sought alternative arrangements.
The Lake Forest Fire Department was assisted at the scene by the Deerfield, Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Mundelein, Countryside, Lincolnshire, Grayslake and North Chicago fire departments.
“The Lake Forest Fire Department thanks all assisting agencies for their coordinated response and continued mutual aid partnership,” the department said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Lake Forest Fire Department.