Fire leaves Gurnee home uninhabitable

Gurnee fire officials suspect an electrical malfunction sparked a blaze late Wednesday morning that burned a large hole in a family's roof and left the home uninhabitable.

A neighbor of the two story home on the 1500 block of Woodbury Circle spotted smoke billowing from a window in the house and called 911 at about 11:38 a.m., said Gurnee Fire Department Batallion Chief Bob Heraver.

When firefighters arrived roughly four minutes later, the was fire burning through a hole in the roof, Heraver said.

The fire, which started in the second floor ceiling, was brought under control in about 15 to 20 minutes, Heraver said.

“There was a lot of damage to the attic area,” he said. “Between that and the water damage, the family is going to be staying with another family in the area.”

Fire officials said there was not much smoke damage to the home, but there was extensive water damage on the first and second floors.

The exact cause of the fire remained under investigation Wednesday night and a damage estimate was not available.

The Gurnee Fire Department was assisted by the Grayslake Fire Department and Newport Township Fire District.