Fire causes $400,000 damage to Barrington Hills mansion

Flames from an accidental fire Wednesday afternoon at a Barrington Hills mansion caused around $400,000 in damage, fire officials said.

The three-story, 20,000-square-foot home was still under construction, Barrington Fire Chief Jim Arie said. Contractors were on site around 11:15 a.m. when the fire department received the 911 call to the home at 10 Goose Lake Drive, he added.

No one was hurt.

Firefighters encountered challenges in that the area is heavily wooded and without hydrants. An extra alarm requesting additional firefighters sounded 15 minutes after Barrington crews first arrived, Arie said. Crews had the blaze under control around 2:15 p.m., and personnel from 22 fire departments responded, Arie said.

"It was very much challenging, but we were aggressive and fortunate," Arie said.

Heavy smoke poured from one end of the roof, and crews tore open the roof to vent the home. The fire does not appear suspicious, but it remains under investigation, officials said.

Sprinklers would have helped fight the fire, Arie said. Barrington Hills does not require homes to have them, he added.

"The Barrington fire chief wishes there was a sprinkler requirement," Arie said.