House Explosion with Nobody Home on Sunnyview Rd in Libertyville

Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies and Libertyville firefighter/paramedics responded about 2:38 p.m. Wednesday July 12, 2017 to a house explosion at 1760 Sunnyview Road in unincorporated Libertyville. When firefighters and sheriff’s deputies arrived they found the home sustained major structural damage with the roof collapsed to ground level. The house was located about two blocks or 1200 feet south of Route 137 (Buckley Road), and about 4300 feet west of Milwaukee Avenue — just northwest of downtown Libertyville.

Libertyville Fire Department requested a MABAS Technical Rescue Box Alarm, but were able to quickly strike out the Box Alarm after determining there was no rescue operation needed at the home, and no stabilization was required to save the property that was already destroyed. There were no initial reports of any injuries, and residents in the neighborhood were allowed return to their homes.

Fire Chief Rich Carani of the Libertyville Fire Department said he did not initially know what caused the explosion. There was no fire when firefighter/paramedics and police first arrived, but the house was flattened with debris and windows strewn apart least 50 feet.

There was no visible flooding around the house or the yard, but firefighters were not able to get a good look at the basement. Initially it was unknown if there was flooding in the basement that could have extinguished a pilot light and allowed gas to collect.

Libertyville firefighter/paramedics began responding to an uptick in flooding-related calls about 3-4 AM Wednesday and continued responding to flooding related emergencies, including motorists stranded in flooded roadways.

No one was home at the time of the explosion. No pets were inside the house either.

Westbound Route 137 was open, but eastbound Route 137 close to the home was reduced to one lane.

The incident remains under investigation by the Libertyville Fire Department. Lake County Sheriff’s Detectives will assist fire officials with the investigation, along with investigators from the gas company and insurance company.

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INITIAL FIRE/MEDIC UNITS ASSIGNED …

ENGINE(S): E461, E463 Countryside E412

TRUCK(S): T ?? T ?? TL ??

SQUAD(S): SQD ??

RIT: BC ?? T ??

CHIEF(S): BC46 4600 4680 Countryside Chief 4101, Countryside Chief 4106

EMS: A461, Grayslake A273 Countryside Ambulance 412

TECHNICAL RESCUE BOX UNITS ASSIGNED …

BOX UNITS ASSIGNED …

ENGINE(S): Knollwood E 44

TRUCK(S): Libertyville TL 461, Lake Forest TL 421

SQUAD(S): Lincolnshire-Riverwoods SQD 51, Newport Township SQD 1456, Deerfield-Bannockburn SQD 19, Gurnee Squad, Lake Bluff SQD4520

TECH(S): Lake Forest, Gurnee, Grayslake, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods (1 Tech on S51, 1 Tech on Utility 52), Waukegan, Wauconda, Round Lake, Newport Township, Lake Zurich (Unavailable), Buffalo Grove Squad 26

MECHANIC(S): Mechanics: Gurnee, Countryside

EMS: Grayslake A273, Lake Villa A241

CHIEF(S): Liaison Team Leader, Lake Forest Chief, Mundelein Chief 4300, Countryside Chief 4100, Newport Township Chief, Wauconda Chief 3402

SPECIAL: TRT 4, Lumber 4, SRT Mech Truck, Division 4 Bus, MESS Canteen, Command 2, ATV 4

CHANGE OF QUARTERS: Lake Villa Ambulance, Round Lake Engine, Buffalo Grove A26 and Long Grove Engine/SQD55, Zion Ambulance, and North Chicago E1540 (3 Techs), Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Chief 5101,

STAGING: Route 137 and Sunnyview (north side parking lot)