Nov. 12--A fire caused extensive damaged to a Sikh temple in the far northwest suburbs.
Firefighters were called to the Guru Nanak Sikh Mission temple at 217 W. State Road in Island Lake about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to Wauconda Fire District officials. Firefighters arrived to see smoke "billowing from the building," said Waconda fire Chief David Dato.
Crews upgraded the call to a second alarm, and additional departments from the surrounding area responded, Dato said. Firefighters were able to battle the blaze from inside the building at first, but as flames spread, crews had to take a defensive position, Dato said.
There was extensive damage to the temple and the roof nearly collapsed, officials said.
"The interior as well as the exterior has suffered heavy damage," Dato said. "This is a very, very old structure."
Firefighters put out the blaze just after midnight, and no injuries were reported, officials said.
Baba Daljit Singh, the temple's pastor, came to the scene. He said nobody was in the building at the time of the fire.
"It's very sad news for us," he said. "I feel I am burning inside. ... I have no words."
Fire officials said the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as the Illinois state fire marshal's office will investigate because the structure housed a place of worship.
