Fireworks Suspected in Destructive Townhouse Fire on Goshawk Lane, Unincorporated Deerfield

Fire scene including 25-foot flames on the roof of a townhouse that may have ignited when fireworks hit the townhouse on Goshawk Lane in unincorporated Deerfield north of Chevy Chase. Note: Some fire radio audio in this video is from another fire in Palatine (CARDINAL NEWS/Julianna Goldberg). YouTube Tips ⓘ

According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, fireworks are the likely cause of a townhouse fire on Goshawk Lane north of Inverrary Lane in unincorporated Deerfield in Lake County, Illinois.

Initially, no injuries were reported.

Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Deerfield firefighters, firefighters from several area fire departments, and Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an extra-alarm fire overnight Thursday July 4, to Friday July 5, 2024.

The fire was one of two residential structure fires overnight, both likely caused by fireworks. The other fire was in Wadsworth in Lake County.

At approximately 1:45 a.m., Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies and Lincolnshire-Riverwoods firefighters and other firefighters responded to a townhouse fire in the block of 300 Goshawk Lane, unincorporated Deerfield. Lake County Sheriff’s deputies arrived first, and when they arrived, they discovered the roof of a 2-story townhouse on fire. Large flames were 25 feet above above the roof line.

According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, multiple residents evacuated from the townhome before the townhouse roof and upper floor became engulfed with flames. Firefighters were able to control the fire by about 2:30 AM; however, the townhome sustained major damage. A townhouse next door also sustained damage that is initially described as minor.

According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, there were explosive fireworks being ignited near the townhome earlier in the evening. Several neighbors told CARDINAL NEWS off camera that fireworks were being launched at the neighborhood from across a pond directly behind the townhouse that ignited.

Lake County Sheriff’s deputies also investigated the area on the other side of the pond, west of the burning townhouse. Sheriff’s deputies also helped control the situation in the neighborhood, providing safe conditions while neighbors came out of their townhouses, and watched shocked as firefighters responded and extinguished the severe fire.

The fire response was elevated to an extra-alarm Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Box Alarm. Firefighters, paramedics and/or command officers from Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Countryside, Glencoe, Highland Park, Long Grove, Northbrook, Northfield, Prospect Heights, Wheeling and possibly other communities responded to the fire scene. An Arlington Heights Fire Department rescue ambulance paramedic crew was assigned as the rehab ambulance to monitor firefighters’ physiological status and help with their physiological recovery after the extreme physical work performed by firefighting crews.

Fireworks were likely the cause of a Wadsworth fire and an unincorporated Deerfield fire about one hour later during early morning hours Friday, July 5, 2024, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office (ABC 7 Chicago). YouTube Tips ⓘ

Also, on July 5, 2024, at approximately 12:50 a.m., Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies, Gurnee firefighters, Newport firefighters, and other area firefighters responded to a structure fire in the block of 37700 Charlotte Drive, Wadsworth near Gurnee. Sheriff’s deputies arrived and learned the three occupants of the home, along with their pets, were able to exit before flames engulfed the attached garage. Firefighters fought the blaze for several hours, however, the home was a total loss, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The occupants of the home in Wadsworth were igniting explosive fireworks near their home, earlier in the evening, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office reminded the community that most fireworks in Illinois are not legal. Every year, deputies respond to calls where people have been critically injured or where structures have burned to the ground, due to illegally used fireworks. Please leave fireworks to professionals who have obtained the necessary permits, after their safety plans have been approved.

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