Wonder Lake garage fire spreads to two houses, leaving one uninhabitable

A garage fire Saturday afternoon in Wonder Lake left one house uninhabitable, and caused the house across the street to catch on fire.

Wonder Lake Fire Protection District Chief Mike Weber said fire crews were dispatched to the 2900 block of East Chestnut Drive at 4:31 p.m. for a detached garage on fire.

The fire spread from the garage to the house, and while firefighters were extinguishing the fire at those structures, the heat caused the trees to catch fire and a tree branch fell down on the house across the street, causing that house to catch on fire as well.

There were no injuries reported. A cause for the original garage fire was not available on Saturday, but Weber said an investigation is ongoing.

Numerous fire departments, from McHenry County and Southern Wisconsin assisted, Weber said.

The house where the garage fire started is now uninhabitable, with two antique cars, some antique motorcycles, and a couple of boats unsalvageable, Weber said.

Weber said the house across the street is habitable.

Both fires were under control in 40 minutes.