(ISLAND LAKE) No injuries were reported after a 3-alarm fire broke out in a vacant building Monday night in northwest suburban Island Lake.
Firefighters responded about 11:35 p.m. to the vacant one-story building in the 27000 block of North Beech Street, according to a statement from the Wauconda Fire District. The building once housed Sheltering Oak nursing home, which was closed in 2012.
Because the 3-alarm fire was so big, crews were not able to enter the building and defensive fire operations began, fire officials said. The blaze was under control by 2 a.m. Tuesday, and firefighters remained at the scene until 4 a.m. searching for hidden fire in the structure.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Wauconda Fire District was assisted at the scene by firefighters from Countryside, Wonder Lake, Round Lake, McHenry, Barrington Countryside, Lake Zurich, Crystal Lake, Long Grove, Fox Lake, Grayslake, Algonquin, and Woodstock. Station coverage was provided by the Marengo, Woodstock, Spring Grove, Lake Villa, Grayslake and Barrington Countryside fire departments. Assistance was also provided by the Island Lake Police Department, Island Lake Public Works Department, Lake County sheriff’s office, Lake County Building and Zoning Department and the MESS Canteen.