A family cat died and 10 residents were left homeless after a fire broke out in the basement of a house and spread, leaving the home uninhabitable in Waukegan, fire officials said.
The Waukegan Fire Department responded around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to the 600 block of Lenox Avenue for a report of a structure fire.
Waukegan Fire Department Battalion Chief Todd Zupec said fire crews arrived and found heavy smoke coming from the building.
Firefighters entered the single-family home and found a fire in the basement.
Firefighters began pulling hose lines to extinguish the fire while other crews began conducting a search of the upper floors to confirm the building was unoccupied, Zupec said.
All occupants were able to self-evacuate prior to the arrival of the fire department.
Zupec said there was extensive fire damage to the basement with some fire extension to the first floor.
The home was determined to be uninhabitable due to the extent of damage.
The American Red Cross was notified and requested to assist the occupants of the home.
Zupec said 10 residents were displaced and forced to seek alternative living arrangements.
No injuries were reported to any residents or firefighters but a family cat died in the fire.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Waukegan Fire Department, Zupec said.