Unattended fire pit causes Wauconda structure fire

Wauconda firefighters quickly extinguished a structure fire on the 600 block of Pamela Court Saturday.

A neighbor of the single-family, two-story home reported the fire, which affected the exterior of an attached garage. Firefighters arrived on the scene at 12:52 p.m. By 1 p.m., the fire had been extinguished.

There were no injuries. Crews were able to keep the fire from extending into the home, officials said.

An unattended fire pit in the homeowner’s yard was the source of the fire, according to Wauconda Fire District Battalion Chief John Spratt.

Until firefighters arrived, the homeowner used a garden hose to keep the fire in check. Damage was estimated at about $40,000, officials said.

Two engines, a ladder truck and an ambulance responded while change of quarters companies from McHenry and Round Lake manned the Wauconda station.