Fire causes substantial damage to vacant hotel in Waukegan

Fire at Ramada Inn may have been intentionally set

A fire that may have been intentionally set caused extensive damage Wednesday to the vacant Ramada Inn, 200 N. Green Bay Road, in Waukegan.

One firefighter was treated for exhaustion on the scene. Crews remained for several hours but no other injuries were reported. Extensive damage was reported to the first and second floors but no dollar estimate was given.

Firefighters responded about 4:30 p.m. to several calls of smoke showing from the west side of the long vacant hotel and found heavy fire on the first floor at the back of the building extending to the second floor, Fire Marshal Todd Zupec said in a news release.

A defensive firefighting attack was started because the building had been vacant for several years, Zupec said.

Extensive manpower was needed to gain access to the building because most window and doorway openings were boarded up, he added.

Several other departments were called to assist with the fire and to man Waukegan stations throughout the day. Crews worked extensively to get access and extinguish the fire with hand lines from the outside, Zupec said.

Waukegan and Gurnee ladder trucks were used to apply water to fire that had burned through the roof. The alarm for extra help ended at 9:30 p.m. and crews remained at the scene for several hours to extinguish any remaining hot spots.

The fire originated on the first floor of the former hotel and was contained to one of the five buildings that make up the complex, Zupec said.

The other buildings are separate wings of the hotel and include a banquet facility/restaurant, he added.

The building has a history of squatters entering and staying inside, he added.

Preliminary investigation shows the fire may have been intentionally set.

Crews from Beach Park, Deerfield, Gurnee, Mundelein, North Chicago, Lake Villa, Libertyville, Newport, Zion and Grayslake assisted.