Antioch fire today: Massive fire erupts at Dolphin Harbor Marina in 2600-block of West Oak Avenue, damaging trailers, video shows
Share and Follow

ANTIOCH, Ill. (WLS) — A large fire erupted at a marina off the Chain O’Lakes in north suburban Antioch on Monday afternoon.

Video captured the blaze at the Dolphin Harbor Marina in the 2600-block of West Oak Avenue before firefighters could get a handle on things.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The fire, fueled by grass and a couple of trailers, started on Lot 13 around 12:45 p.m., Antioch’s fire chief said.

“You’re worrying about people, and you’re worrying about, was this multiple structures? Was it the marina itself? Was it the boats? Like, everyone’s kind of panicking,” said witness Deb Kolaras.

For onlookers, it was an apocalyptic scene as the tall flames and thick, black smoke got precariously close to lake homes.

Natalie Florea was among those who could only watch helplessly.

“I’ve never seen anything like it, and it was so quick. I mean, with the wind it was just like minutes, seconds. It was just going, going,” Florea said. “I was just scared. I was just hoping that nobody was hurt.”

The fire damaged a dozen trailers and burned acres of swamp land.

Jeff Star says he and other boaters were preparing to help evacuate people from the marina when the fire department arrived.

“It’s a miracle that nobody was really killed, because we thought this whole community would be leveled,” Star said. “We thought everybody’s home in this community was going to be burned.”

Firefighters extinguished the fire a couple of hours after it started. No one was seriously hurt.

The fire chief said that if the wind had been blowing in another direction, there could have been much more damage.

“These little houses, the fire was on the edge of that, and it was crazy,” Star said.

The fire chief said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Further information was not immediately available.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Airports across US feeling brunt of government shutdown

US Airports Face Delays and Disruptions Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown

As the government shutdown stretches into its sixth week, airports nationwide are…
Exclusive | 92-year-old Holocaust survivor votes for first time ever -

Exclusive: 92-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Casts First Vote

In a heartwarming turn of events, a 92-year-old Holocaust survivor from The…
Trump cuts China tariff after Xi signals tougher fentanyl enforcement, rare-earth pause

Trump Reduces China Tariffs Following Xi’s Commitment to Strengthen Fentanyl Regulations and Pause on Rare-Earth Exports

On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced plans to reduce tariffs on Chinese…
William and Kate's party for builders and staff who helped with move

Inside William and Kate’s Heartfelt Celebration Honoring Their Dedicated Moving Team

The Prince and Princess of Wales recently hosted a ‘thank you’ celebration…
Bengals-Bears game today: Chicago Bears defeat Cincinnati Bengals 47-42 as teams trade last-minute touchdowns

Chicago Bears Edge Out Cincinnati Bengals 47-42 in Thrilling Last-Minute Touchdown Exchange

In a thrilling encounter, the Chicago Bears triumphed over the Cincinnati Bengals…
Judge orders Trump administration to pay SNAP benefits with emergency funds

Court Mandates Trump Administration to Disburse SNAP Benefits Using Emergency Funds

On Friday, a federal judge intervened to halt the Trump administration’s plan…
Florida bill would require every business to use E-Verify to certify employment eligibility

Florida Legislation Proposes Mandatory E-Verify for All Businesses: Ensuring Employment Eligibility Compliance

State Representative Berny Jacques, representing District 59 in Pinellas County, has taken…
I can't disclose my medical history to my partner. He'd leave me

Concerns Over Partner’s Reaction Lead to Reluctance in Sharing Medical History

Dear Jane, Once upon a time, I was a firm believer that…