Cause of massive Grand Bear Resort fire still unknown: officials

UTICA, Ill. - Twenty-eight homes burned to the ground after a massive fire swept through the Grand Bear Resort in Utica Sunday night.

Now, fire investigators are trying to determine what sparked the devastating fire – as residents pick up the pieces.

Firefighters continued putting out hotspots Tuesday as the fire’s destructive path became clear. The fire started on the porch of one four-unit cabin and high winds sent showers of embers and sparks onto six more buildings.

"And all those embers were landing on all the other buildings and that’s what caused so quickly to have all the other buildings on fire," said Assistant Utica Fire Chief Drew Partain.

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Former Chicagoans Sheila and Mike Brambosz watched their retirement dream home go up in flames.

"The fire moved so fast," said Shiela. "It just jumped with the winds. It just kept on jumping and jumping. We never thought our unit would get hit."

The 28 privately owned units that were destroyed are part of a homeowner’s association connected to the resort complex, which is just steps from Starved Rock State Park.

The rest of the resort, including the waterpark, was unscathed.

"We are grateful nothing happened to the hotel, nothing happened to the waterpark," said Matthew Kosch, one of the co-owners of the Grand Bear resort. "So as soon as we get the OK, we’re good to go, and then we can open. But it hurts. It hurts the area and the community."

Firefighters said they were also hampered by the fact that there were no hydrants at the resort and all the water had to be trucked in.

"It all had to be hauled from Utica and LaSalle’s water systems out here, and that just makes another challenge," said Partain.

Fire officials said they still don’t know what sparked the massive blaze, but they don’t believe it’s suspicious.