Last night, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods firefighters responded to a house fire at 20538 N. Clarice Avenue in unincorporated Lake County, near Buffalo Grove. The call came in at 10:53 PM, and as crews made their way to the scene, the alarm was upgraded to a Code 4—a working fire. The temperature had dropped to 12 degrees Fahrenheit, with steady snowfall driven by strong winds, making conditions particularly challenging for emergency responders.
Upon arrival, first responders found the two-story home fully engulfed in flames, with both residents outside. The husband was taken to a local hospital by Lincolnshire personnel, reportedly suffering from smoke inhalation. Due to the frozen nearest hydrant, the incident was escalated to a Box Alarm, allowing multiple units to deploy lines and set up Lincolnshire Truck 53 for a master stream operation.
Both Lincolnshire engine companies were actively pumping water, along with Truck 53. Additional help came from mutual aid and auto-aid departments, including Long Grove, Countryside, Buffalo Grove, Northbrook, Palatine, Northfield, and Grayslake.
The fire caused extensive damage, with the roof collapsing during the incident. Local residents captured the devastation, including photos from Sally Miller and Larry Shapiro, who arrived after the structure was already fully consumed by flames. One image shows a firefighter with an ice-covered helmet, highlighting the harsh weather conditions faced by emergency personnel.
These images offer a rare glimpse into the intensity of the blaze and the efforts made by first responders to contain it. More updates and details are expected in the coming hours.