The Wauconda Fire Department in MABAS Division 4 was called to the scene of a single-family house fire shortly after 1PM today at 1116 Madison Avenue. Companies found heavy fire in the garage of the structure that was communicating to the house and attic area. They upgraded the response to a MABAS Box Alarm bringing mutual aid from several departments. There was no one home at the time of the fire and though the garage sustained heavy damage to the roof and the vehicle parked inside was destroyed, damage to the main house was limited to the area directly behind the two-story garage.
Companies assisting at the fire were from Lake Zurich, Lake Villa, Nunda, Barrington, Round Lake, Mundelein, Countryside, and Long Grove.
Larry Shapiro took in the fire, but arrived after it was knocked down. Here are several images from the scene.
Wauconda Engine 341 was the still engine to the fire at 1116 Madison Avenue and had three lines off. It is a 2009 HME/Ferrara Intruder. Larry Shapiro photo
From the street it would appear that the window above the garage might have been a bedroom, when in fact there was no floor or buildout in that area. Larry Shapiro photo
Also, there was no second floor above the garage floor even though there was a fair sized window installed in the wall as is visible in this street image from Google Maps.
The house at 1116 Madison Avenue in Wauconda prior to the fire as seen on Google Maps.
Several of the gusset plates securing the light-weight constructed roof trusses failed in the garage area.
The roof trusses above the garage as seen from the driveway. Larry Shapiro photo
A closeup view showing the gusset failures on the roof trusses. Larry Shapiro photo
Mutual aid companies were staged on Bonner Road.
Round Lake, Mundelein, Countryside, and Long Grove apparatus is stage on Bonner Road. Larry Shapiro photo
Wauconda firefighters hit hot spots in the garage during the overhaul phase. Larry Shapiro photo
Nunda FPD Ambulance 1351 is staged on Bonner Road. Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro has a gallery of images which can be seen HERE.
