Fire at Grayslake business on Route 83 under investigation

Grayslake Fire Protection District officials are investigating a blaze that erupted Monday at a business on Route 83.

Crews were summoned to the fire about 2:30 p.m. at Ground Up Builder in the 600 block of Route 83, also known as Barron Boulevard in Grayslake. Fire Chief John Christian said no one was injured.

"On our arrival, there was heavy fire and smoke from the structure," Christian said during a break across the street from Ground Up. "It appeared most of it at that time was at the rear of the structure. Crews made the attacks. Luckily, nobody was injured."

Christian said a cause was being investigated.

Ground Up owner Fraiser Hamlin said his company has kept its office in the Grayslake building while having other operations in Antioch. He said a section of the building has been rented to a business similar to Ground Up, a full-service contractor that also offers snow and ice removal.

"I found out from a buddy that ... heard it on the scanner," Hamlin said. "He called me and he goes, 'What's your address?' and he gave me some address. And I go, 'No, that's not mine.' And then a girlfriend of my office manager who works in one of the other fire departments, she called and said, 'Hey, I think Fraiser's building is on fire.'"

Grayslake police halted northbound Route 83 traffic at Frederick Road and diverted it east on that street. Southbound Route 83 traffic was stopped at Washington Street.

Leslie McLeod, a spokeswoman for Grayslake Elementary District 46, said some students at Frederick School, Meadowview School and Grayslake Middle School - the buildings closest to the fire scene - were unable to use buses after classes finished Monday. They were picked up by parents or walked home by employees, McLeod said.