5 injured in blaze at Vernon Hills home

A 73-year-old man is in critical condition in the burn unit of Loyola Medical Center after he was trapped in a house fire in Vernon Hills, fire and police officials said.

The victim suffered burns on more than 25 percent of his body in the 1 a.m. fire at 69 Monterey Drive, police spokesman Jim Levicki said. Also injured was a 50-year-old man, who is in Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with burns on his feet.

Three police officers were treated at Condell or at the scene for minor injuries and were released, Levicki said.

One officer was injured when a piece of aluminum siding fell on him, a second injury involved a broken ladder and a third stemmed from smoke inhalation, Levicki said.

Police and fire officials refuse to release names of the injured.

Countryside Fire Capt. Chris Reynolds said a preliminary investigation shows a cigarette lighter accidentally ignited a bed and some bedding materials.

Reynolds said police and fire departments were called to the residence and saw heavy fire and smoke coming from windows on the first and second floor.

Reynolds said police assisted in removing three occupants from the first floor and moving them to a safe area.

Firefighters placed a ladder to the second-floor window and rescued a fourth person, who was leaning out calling for help, Reynolds added.

The fire was under control and extinguished in about 45 minutes.

Reynolds said the home sustained about $200,000 in damages. The worst areas were the second-floor bedroom -- where the fire originated -- second-floor hallway, attic and front exterior.

The home is uninhabitable, Reynolds said. The Red Cross has been called in to help the displaced occupants.

Smoke detectors were present and operational in the home, he said.

Fire departments from Mundelein, Libertyville, Lincolnshire Riverwoods, Lake Forest, Highwood, Wauconda, Deerfield, Palatine Rural and Buffalo Grove helped battle the blaze.