Investigators search for cause of fire at Sikh mission in Island Lake
Federal, state and local authorities are trying to determine what caused an overnight fire at a Sikh house of worship in Island Lake.
No one was hurt in the blaze at the Guru Nanak Sikh Mission of America, 217 W. State Road. The fire gutted the building and destroyed the roof and some sections of the walls.
The fire was reported about 8:30 p.m. When crews arrived they saw flames in the building's lower level, according to a news release from the Wauconda Fire Protection District.
Extinguishing the blaze was difficult because it was in the walls and floors, authorities said. It eventually was put out from outside the structure.
Crews from Lake Zurich, Fox Lake, Round Lake, Long Grove and other area departments assisted.
Investigators with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were on the scene Wednesday, as were officials from the state fire marshal's office and local police and firefighters. They walked around the building, taking pictures and looking for clues.
A loss estimate was not immediately available.
The facility is a gurdwara, a place of worship for followers of the Sikh faith. It opened in 1997.
The building was erected in 1943 as the First Community Congregational Church, said Connie Mascillino, president of the local historical society. It was the centerpiece of Island Lake Estates, the village's first residential development, she said.
"(It) is truly a historic piece of Island Lake," Mascillino said.
A representative of the gurdwara couldn't be reached for comment.
In 2011, the facility was temporarily shut down by Island Lake's building department because of safety violations.
Among the most serious concerns was that all of the building's fire-exit doors were locked from the inside with deadbolts, and some of the locks were taped over to prevent access with a key, according to village documents.
The building department also discovered broken windows, four sleeping rooms that weren't permitted under village code, exposed wiring and other safety issues.
No recent safety concerns or criminal issues have arisen at the mission, Police Chief Don Bero said.
Daily Herald Staff Writer Gilbert R. Boucher II contributed to this report.