Fire's out, but the debris still remains

Lake County prosecutors could get involved if the owners of a Mundelein-area house destroyed by an Aug. 3 fire don't clean up the debris soon, officials said.

Representatives from the county's building department have written the owners of 21413 W. Route 60, requesting the debris be removed, building officer Mike Kuhar said. His office has received no response.

If the owners don't respond to a second letter to be sent next week, the matter will be referred to the state's attorney's office, Kuhar said.

The owners, Kikon and June Suh of Round Lake, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Investigators with the Countryside Fire Protection District and other agencies believe the fire that destroyed the house was accidental, although a cause has not been determined.

The house was under construction at the time. It burned quickly because it consisted only of a frame and roof, Countryside Fire Marshal Mike McNally said.

Officials found no evidence of arson, he said. The fire may have been sparked by equipment being used to pump water out of the basement, McNally said.

It also could've been caused by people, accidentally or deliberately, but the complete destruction has made pinpointing a cause difficult, McNally said.

The blaze spread to two nearby structures and trees in the area. A steel maintenance building was slightly damaged. The other building, a house two doors away, was badly damaged and has been uninhabitable since the blaze.

Neighbors hope the Suhs clean the property soon.

"There's been nothing done," said Kim Abraham, who lives next door to the property and owns the damaged maintenance building. "I don't think it is really safe."

Kuhar said his office tries to give homeowners who experience devastating fires time to recover. Sending letters requesting cleanup before seeking legal action is normal procedure, he said.