Arson suspected

Two homes destroyed; six people displaced

WAUKEGAN -- Arson is suspected in a fire that destroyed two 11th Street duplex residences and damaged two others early Friday.

Fire Marshal Steve Lenzi said Waukegan police would be investigating the blaze as a possible arson based on findings by firefighters at the scene.

"There was a heavy amount of fire when crews arrived," Lenzi said. "The flames were floor-to-ceiling with no real content in the building, which makes us believe there was a possible accelerant used."

Twenty-one firefighters took more than three hours to extinguish the fire, which injured no one but displaced six residents. The incident was initially reported in a duplex at 1640 11th St. just before 4 a.m. When firefighters arrived, the blaze had spread to the second unit in the duplex. It eventually spread to a neighboring duplex.

Two of four residences on the street were rendered a complete loss, according to Lenzi, who said the fire spread to the neighboring duplex due to heavy overnight winds.

"The duplexes were separated by a firewall in between, and the unit that actually shared walls with the original fire building did not sustain as much damage as the one next door," Lenzi said.

One neighboring duplex sustained minor damage, and a fourth sustained smoke damage, Lenzi said.

The two duplexes most affected by the blaze were unoccupied at the time, and there were no reports of injuries.

The Waukegan Fire Department received assistance from the North Chicago, Gurnee, Newport and Beach Park departments, Lenzi said.