A structural fire in Grayslake May 22 generated such extensive smoke that a portion of Route 83 was closed down for a few hours.

Grayslake Fire Department Battalion Chief Joris Lillge said that the location of the burning pole barn made it more difficult to battle.

"Our crews had difficulty getting access to the barn because it was in the rear of the wooded property," Lillge said. 

He said the call came in at 5:17 p.m. Tuesday night with reports of heavy smoke and burning near Route 83 and Ivanhoe Road in Grayslake.

"Due to the lack of access, we used MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) to get assistance from other departments," Lillge said. The Grayslake Fire Department was assisted by personnel from Gurnee, Round Lake, Antioch and Fox Lake Fire Departments.

The call finished at 7:38 p.m., Lillge said. One firefighter suffered a minor injury that was treated at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The pole barn had been mainly used for equipment storage so there were no animals involved.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Lillge said it appears to be accidental. The property owner was home at the time of the fire, and had been burning brush which may have contributed to the fire but the investigation is still ongoing, Lillge said. The total damage estimate is approximately $50,000.