Report of Smoke in the Neighborhood Leads to Discovery of Fire in 100 Year-Old House on Lake St, Libertyville

Libertyville police and firefighters responded about 12:34 a.m. Sunday November 18, 2018 to a report of smoke in the area of Cook Avenue about one block south of the fire scene.

Firefighters located the fire from a house in the block of 300 Lake Street, just east of Lange Court by about 12:44 a.m. Libertyville Fire Department said the home, which was more than 100 years old and had been through several additions over the years, was vacant and undergoing renovation when the fire occurred.

First crews inside the home reported a large hole had already burned through the first floor. Within minutes the fire was found on the second floor and the attic.

Fire command requested a MABAS Change of Quarters Box Alarm (Box #46-10) by 12:56 a.m. which requests mutual aid fire agencies to cover fire stations in Libertyville. By 1:01 a.m. fire command requested a full MABAS Box Alarm with out of town firefighters requested directly to the scene. Firefighter/paramedics from Deerfield-Bannockburn FPD, Grayslake, Gurnee, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Mundelein, and Countryside FPD.

Libertyville Fire Department said the “balloon type construction” allowed the fire to travel through many empty spaces. Homes with balloon type construction are common in older houses in the city of Chicago, and are known for fire extension that travels behind walls. Libertyville Fire Department said that due to the age of the house, and the type of construction, the fire was difficult to access and extinguish.

The MABAS Box Alarm was struck out at 6:03 a.m., but with crews remaining on scene and working on the extinguishment of the fire and overhaul of the house. At 10:30 a.m., the fire department was still on the scene, soaking the building with water to extinguish all hot spots in the building. Fire command began to release some personnel at about 6:37 a.m.

No injuries were reported, and the fire, which is initially believed to have started on the first floor, is under investigation.

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