1 Airlifted To Hospital After Algonquin Blaze

ALGONQUIN, IL — Fire crews had a hard time locating a person stuck inside a home that caught fire Thursday afternoon in Algonquin due to its "hoarder-like condition" and the heavy smoke and fire, fire officials said. The person, whose identity has not been released, was first transported to Northwestern Huntley Hospital with life-threatening injuries and then airlifted to Loyola Hospital.

Firefighters with the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District were first called to the ranch home in the 0 block of Alice Lane in Algonquin at about 3 p.m. Thursday. Fire crews first at the scene found a heavy fire coming from the front of the home, according to a news release.

Firefighters learned there was possibly someone still inside the residence and started an "aggressive interior attack" to search for the resident, fire officials said. About 20 minutes later, firefighters found the person and got them out of the home. The condition of the person was not immediately available.

"Crews encountered a difficult search due to hoarder like conditions of the home and the large volume of smoke and fire," according to the news release.

No firefighters were injured in the blaze, and a total of nine fire departments assisted at the scene. The Office of the State Fire Marshall has been called to assist the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District with its investigation.

A damage estimate is not yet available, according to the news release.

Patch will update with more information as it becomes available.