Far North Suburban Marina Ignites...Again

WINTHROP HARBOR, Ill. (CBS 2) -- A fire broke out Thursday at a boat marina in the far north suburbs that sustained about $12 million in damages in another fire just last month.

The fire swept through Skipper Buds boat sales warehouse, at 215 Nortpointe Dr. in Winthrop Harbor just off Sheridan Road, near the Wisconsin border.

Skipper Buds bills itself as "the largest marine dealer in the Midwest."

The marina also caught fire on Feb. 15, striking one of several large steel-clad buildings where boats are stored for winter on trailers.

The 4-11 alarm fire took six hours to extinguish. Twenty different fire departments were sent to the scene.

According to Scott DeSoto, commodore of the club, only four boats suffered severe damage in the Feb. 15 fire. "By 9:00 AM Saturday, many Skipper Buds customers had already received personal phone calls and emails from Dennis Ellerbrock and or Skipper Buds staff," he wrote on the club's web site.

But damage was estimated at $12 million.

Officials said that fire appeared to be accidental. Further information about the latest fire on Thursday was not immediately available.

The Lake County News-Sun's Frank Aberholden contributed to this report.

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