Overnight fire guts Barrington-area mansion

A four-alarm fire swept through a Barrington-area mansion early Tuesday morning, forcing police to shut down Cuba Road for more than six hours while firefighters from 27 agencies battled the blaze.

Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Chris Covelli said police and firefighters called to the scene at 1:55 a.m. found the home in the 26100 block of West Cuba Road fully engulfed in flames.

Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District Chief Jim Kreher said neighbors called 9-1-1 to report the fire when they noticed flames going through the home's roof. Because of the intense flames and extreme heat, firefighters were not able to enter the home and instead had to spray the blaze from outside, officials said.

For about three hours a team of firefighters from 27 departments battled the blaze. Firefighters came from as far away as Hampshire, Woodstock and Prospect Heights. Because of there are no hydrants near the home, water had to be brought in from elsewhere in trucks.

The fire was declared under control about 4:50 a.m. The blaze destroyed the home, Covelli said.

While firefighters worked, police closed Cuba Road between Old Barrington Road to Prestwick Drive. Police reopened the road about 8:40 a.m.

Covelli said the home's owners are out of the country on vacation. Firefighters who responded to the blaze did not report any injuries, he added.

Police were told construction work had been going on inside the residence prior to the blaze early Tuesday, Covelli said.

Kreher said their investigators are working with the State Fire Marshal to determine the fire's cause.

• Staff writer Doug T. Graham contributed to this story