Fire at Kildeer motel being investigated

An investigation continues into the cause of a fire at the Rand Motel property near Kildeer early Sunday.

No injuries were reported from the blaze which broke out in a set of garages at the rear of the motel on Route 12, also known as Rand Road, according to the Lake Zurich Fire Department.

Lake Zurich Fire Capt. Robert Bachler said four occupied motel rooms were evacuated after gas and electric service had to be disconnected. The occupants were relocated to other Rand Motel rooms.

The four rooms won't reopen until a check is made Tuesday by Lake Zurich's fire prevention bureau, Bachler said.

Smoke and flames were coming from the garages when the first firefighting unit arrived at the property just north of Lake-Cook Road at 12:43 a.m. Sunday. The garages were bunched together, but not attached to the lodging area.

Officials said the garages sustained major damage, but a dollar amount for the loss had yet to be calculated. Bachler said a probe into the fire's cause was not complete as of Sunday.

Kildeer police assisted at the scene by providing security around the motel and directing traffic near Rand and Lake-Cook roads. Lake Zurich received assistance at the scene from the Wauconda, Buffalo Grove, Countryside, Palatine, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Lake Forest and Long Grove fire departments.

Somewhat tired in appearance, Rand Motel is one of a fading breed of mom-and-pop lodging operators in Lake County along an approximately 26-mile stretch of Route 12, from the Kildeer area to Fox Lake.