wind driven fire destroys large home in Long Grove

Just before 2:00PM on Thursday, (4/22/21) fire companies from Long Grove, Buffalo Grove, Palatine, Lake Zurich, Prospect Heights, Mundelein, the Countryside FPD, the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD, Barrington, and Elk Grove Township were dispatched for a house fire at 3159 Cuba Road in Long Grove. Initial reports were of fire on the roof that the resident was attempting to extinguish. The 6,000 square foot home with a cedar shake roof is located roughly 1,000 feet from the road with a winding driveway and wooden bridge for access.

A dispatcher notified responding units that the homeowner had reportedly reentered the home, but was outside again when the first units arrived. Long Grove units saw fire from the attic in front of the house and from the rear as well upon conducting an initial size up. The alarm was upgraded to a working fire bringing more resources including several additional tankers.

An interior attack was made and found heavy fire inside the home before firefighters were forced to retreat and change to defensive operations. Long Grove Tanker 55 with 3,000 gallons of water and Squad 55 with 730 gallons were both in the driveway followed shortly thereafter by Lake Zurich Engine 324 with another 750 gallons after they dropped 750′ of 5″ hose up the driveway on their way in. The alarm was upgraded to a MABAS Box Alarm which later was upgraded to a 2nd and then a 3rd Alarm.

A deck gun was used to attack the fire until the initial 4800-gallon combined water supply was depleted while additional companies initiated a water supply from the street. Tankers shuttled water from two fill sites, one east and the other from the west.

At one point ammunition inside was heard exploding. Embers from the fire spread to the east starting several small brush fires. The wind-driven fire spread quickly and totally consumed the house which was completely destroyed.