Kildeer motel's safety under microscope after weekend fire
Rand Motel in Kildeer is being scrutinized by officials with the village and Lake Zurich Fire Department as a result of a weekend blaze that erupted in a set of garages.
Authorities say an investigation has ended and the official cause of the fire will remain undetermined. No injuries were reported from the fire early Sunday at the rear of the property just north of Lake-Cook Road on Route 12, also known as Rand Road.
Lake Zurich Deputy Fire Chief David Wheelock said the destroyed garages were not insured, so officials decided to not spend any more money probing specifically what caused the blaze. He said the cause will be officially listed as undetermined.
However, Kildeer Village Administrator Michael Talbett said there were signs the fire may have been related to electrical service that was drawn from a house on the motel property to the garages. The garages were not attached to the motel rooms.
"That sort of wiring may exist in other places," Talbett said. "It's a health and safety concern."
Lake Zurich fire officials are investigating whether Rand Motel's rooms meet safety codes. Kildeer and Lake Zurich fire representatives met to discuss the motel Tuesday.
Four motel rooms were evacuated after gas and electrical service had to be disconnected. The occupants were relocated to other Rand Motel rooms.
Smoke and flames were coming from the garages when the first firefighting unit arrived at 12:43 a.m. Sunday. The garages were bunched together.
Noticeably tired in appearance, Rand Motel is part of a fading breed of mom-and-pop lodging operators along Route 12 in Lake County from the Kildeer area north to Fox Lake.
Talbett said the investigation into whether the motel meets fire codes will dictate what, if any, action the village will pursue against the motel.
"We've got a situation you really can't ignore because you've got people living there and we had a fire," he said.
No one at Rand Motel was reported to be available to discuss the fire Tuesday.