Firefighters quickly stop A/C unit fire from causing major damage to Gurnee condo building, 1 taken to hospital after falling down stairs while evacuating

Firefighters prevented an A/C unit fire from causing major damage to a Gurnee condo building, but officials said a resident was injured while evacuating on Sunday.

The Gurnee Police Department and Gurnee Fire Department responded around 9:35 p.m. Sunday to the Covered Bridge Condominiums in the 900 block of Vose Drive in the Heather Ridge subdivision in Gurnee for a report of a structure fire.

The 911 caller reported hearing an explosion from their A/C unit, according to fire department radio traffic.

Firefighters arrived within minutes and did not immediately see any smoke or fire conditions from the front of the large four-story condo building.

Firefighters were directed to the east side of the building, where they found an exterior A/C unit on fire in the patio area of a first-floor unit.

Crews deployed a hose line and fire extinguishers to put out the fire within minutes of arriving.

The fire only caused damage to that unit’s exterior siding and did not spread to the interior of the building, Gurnee Battalion Fire Chief Nick Perry said.

A very small amount of smoke entered the condo, and the smoke detectors did not activate.

Other residents in the building were alerted after someone pulled the fire alarm.

While evacuating, one of the residents fell down the stairs and sustained minor injuries, Perry said.

Paramedics evaluated and transported them to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.

No other injuries were reported.

All condos in the building remain habitable, and all residents were able to re-enter the building after the fire was extinguished.

Perry said the building’s brick and concrete construction helped prevent the fire from spreading.

The Heather Ridge Security Department assisted at the scene.

The fire remains under investigation by the Gurnee Fire Department.