Mundelein strip mall fire at Deep Wood Plaza with MABAS Box Alarm Fire on Wednesday, September 2, 2020.
Police and firefighter/paramedics from Mundelein responded about 4:55 p.m. Wednesday, September 2, 2020 to a report of a commercial building fire at 837 Lake Street (US 45) in Mundelein.
Mundelein firefighters were first on the scene by 4:58 p.m. and reported smoke and fire showing from the roof area over the end unit of a strip mall — mainly affecting La Michoacana Premium ice cream shop and “Monica’s Mexican Restaurant.” The first crew upon arrival pulled a hose line to the front of the strip mall and aggressively attacked the fire from the exterior while firefighters gained a positive water supply with a connection to a fire hydrant.
Weather was challenging at the time of the fire with winds about 10-14 MPH and gusting 22 to 24 MPH with air temperatures of 85°F to 87°F at the time of firefighting operations (National Weather Service observations at Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling and Prospect Heights).
Firefighters entered the store unit involved with fire and and entered adjacent units at the Deep Wood Plaza strip mall to search for trapped occupants. Firefighters also checked for extension of the fire.
A MABAS Division 4 Box Alarm #43-2C was activated at 5:09 p.m. The Mundelein Fire Department was assisted by firefighters, paramedics and chiefs from Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Countryside Fire Protection District, Deerfield, Grayslake, Gurnee, Lake Forest, Lake Villa, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District, Long Grove, Wauconda — amounting to about 51 firefighters assisting with fire suppression and overhaul operations at the strip mall.
Fire chiefs from Libertyville, Countryside Fire Protection District and Deerfield assisted with fire command and safety at the scene.
Deerfield, Gurnee, Lake Villa, Palatine, and Palatine Rural stood by in Mundelelin fire station(s).
Mundelein Police assisted at the scene with traffic control.
The fire was declared under control about 5:40 p.m.
No civilians or firefighters were injured.
About 10 store and/or restaurant units are located in the strip mall, and several of the retail units were uninhabitable due to smoke and fire damage.
The fire is under investigation with three fire investigators assigned.
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