Fire jumps from one Waukegan home to another

One person and two firemen suffered minor injuries during a fire in Waukegan Thursday night that left two families without homes.

Fire Marshal Steve Lenzi said the Waukegan Fire Department responded to a call reporting a fire in a single family home on the 3500 block of Stonegate Road.

The fire had started in the garage and was rapidly gaining steam before firemen arrived, Lenzi said. Flames were coming out of the garage and attic areas and impinging on the neighboring home, which was about 10 feet away, he said.

More than 10 other departments assisted with the fire, Lenzi said.

“We got a lot of help from our friends,” he added.

The primary house sustained significant damage to the garage and attic areas, and the neighboring house sustained significant damage to the exterior and second floor. The cause of the fire is undetermined.

Combined damage of the two homes is estimated to be between $250,000 and $300,000, maybe more, Lenzi said. Both homes are uninhabitable and at this time, the Red Cross is providing victims with assistance.