Grayslake apartment complex gutted by fire

A Grayslake apartment complex was gutted by fire leaving 13 people homeless late Wednesday night, fire officials said.

An investigation into the cause of the blaze continues at the destroyed complex at 275 Glen Street.

Capt. Peter Nowak of the Grayslake Fire Department said the two-alarm fire started in one of the second story units at about 10:35 p.m. and carried to the roof of the complex.

None of the residents or fire fighters was injured in the blaze, but 8 of the complex 13 residents required housing assistance from the American Red Cross.

Nowak said, when crews arrived on the scene, the fire was burning though one of the windows on the second floor to the roof, then swept across the building.

"It was so hot, the guys could only get about 5 feet inside before they had to pull back," he said. "We switched from carrying hoses in to surrounding the structure with the rigs and dousing it with water."

He said the fire was brought under control at about 11:30 p.m. and fire officials were able to tour the inside to ensure no one was left behind.

"Many of the apartment units on the first floor had smoke and water damage," he said. "I really don't know how expensive the damage was. What does an apartment complex cost?"

He said officials from Grayslake fire and the Illinois Fire Marshal's office will tour the damage Thursday to pin down a cause.

He said fire units from Fox Lake, Lake Villa, Antioch, Round Lake, Waukegan, Countryside, Libertyville, Mundelein and Wauconda were brought in to help contain the blaze.

Glen Street was closed to traffic during the blaze, he said.