A family was left homeless after heavy flames erupted from a large house in Wadsworth, prompting a second alarm response from fire departments in multiple counties.
The Newport Fire Protection District and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 12:30 p.m. Monday to the 38700 block of North Oakcrest Lane in Wadsworth for a report of a structure fire.
Multiple other nearby fire departments were also dispatched and the Beach Fire Department arrived on the scene first.
Fire crews initially reported heavy smoke showing and then quickly reported the fire was fully engulfing the home.
The incident was upgraded to a Working Still Alarm to bring additional fire crews to the scene.
It was soon upgraded again to the second alarm level through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) for even more fire departments to respond from multiple counties in Illinois and Wisconsin.
Fire officials said crews made an aggressive attack on the inside of the home to stop the fire from spreading further.
Newport Fire Protection District Chief Mark Kirschhoffer said the fire occurred in a subdivision that does not have fire hydrants.
Eight water tender trucks responded to transport water and a rural water supply was established.
Kirschhoffer said no one was home when the fire started and a pet dog escaped with no injuries.
No injuries were reported to any firefighters and a damage estimate was not immediately available.
The large single-family home sustained heavy damage from the fire, smoke and water, Kirschhoffer said.
The home was deemed uninhabitable and the family had to seek alternative living arrangements.
Kirschhoffer said the cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation.