Errant electrical box blamed for fire in vacant Lake Villa store

An electrical box once used to power a store sign is blamed for starting a fire at the Cencula Court strip mall outside of Lake Villa.

Lake Villa Fire Protection District Chief Frank Slazes said an electrical dormer "went haywire" and started the fire about 5:30 p.m. Monday at the mall at Route 83 and Morton Drive. Firefighters initially believed the fire was sparked by a lightning strike from a storm that had swept through the area at 4:45 p.m.

"But, after we investigated the fire, it was determined the electrical box that was used for a sign that has been removed sparked and started the fire," Slazes said.

The blaze destroyed the roof and attic area of a former mattress store in the middle of the six-store strip mall, he said. The space has been vacant for about a year.

Other businesses in the mall, including a day-care center and a dry cleaners, were not affected by the fire.

Slazes said extensive repair work will be needed on the roof before the owners will be allowed to rent the damaged space.

"The fire walls separating the facility really did their job," he said. "The fire was contained to that one vacant area."