Wind-Driven Blaze Destroys Home Near Grove & Lincoln Avenues in Fox River Grove

A devastating blaze left a two-story residence in Fox River Grove, Illinois, severely damaged on Friday afternoon. The fire, which erupted in the northwest suburbs, quickly consumed the home, according to local fire officials.

The flames rapidly escalated, fueled by strong winds, leading to extensive destruction throughout the property. “The fire had already spread significantly by the time we arrived. Flames were visible coming from all sides of the building,” stated Chief Robert Kreher of the Fox River Grove Fire Department.

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Firefighters responded to the emergency call shortly after 4:30 p.m. Upon arrival at the scene, located at the intersection of Grove and Lincoln avenues, they found the house fully engulfed in flames, presenting a formidable challenge for the crews.

Fortunately, the sole occupant of the home at the time, a man, managed to escape without injury. The Red Cross has since stepped in to provide assistance to him and his family as they navigate the aftermath of this harrowing incident.

Kreher says there was a man home at the time, and was able to escape unharmed. The Red Cross is now assisting him and his family.

The flames took hours to knock down due to a layer of issues.

“It was a wind-driven fire,” Kreher said. “The hydrants here only flow about 500 GPM, so we didn’t have enough water, so I had to bring in tenders. We set up a tender operation, another water supply, then we were able to get this thing under control.”

Firefighters spent the late evening hours tending to hot spots. As for the home, the fire chief says it’s clearly a total loss and will likely have to be demolished.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.