Two fires leave 15 homeless, pets dead

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Updated: March 19, 2012 10:06AM

WAUKEGAN — Two separate fires Thursday displaced about 15 people and caused more than $300,000 worth of damage to five townhomes and a single-family house. Three pets died in the fires.

“There were no injuries to people or firefighters, but it was a bad day for pets,” said Waukegan Fire Marshal Steve Lenzi, referring to the townhouse fires in the 2500 block of Augusta Drive and the single-family home at in the 2300 block of Jackson Street.

The townhome fire was called in just after 2:30 p.m. Thursday and was raised to a 2-11 alarm fire to bring more personnel to the scene, some from as far away as Deerfield. “We had about 50 firefighters on the scene,” Lenzi said.

The blaze started in a vehicle parked next to the townhouses, and quickly raced up the side of the building once the vinyl siding caught fire and made its way into the attic area. About 15 people were displaced from the five townhouses and damages exceed $300,000. Two cats perished in that fire.

Just after 8:30 p.m. Thursday, firefighters arrived at the single-family home and found heavy smoke, but little flame. They found more heat coming from the basement, but the fire had burned itself out downstairs.

The cause was bad wiring in the basement. Damage was estimated at $50,000. The family dog died in the fire.