The Gurnee Fire Department responded to the fire shortly after 4 p.m. Fire officials said they received a report of an elderly man in a wheelchair and a dog trapped in the home.
Wadsworth 'Gold Pyramid' house badly damaged by fire
Fire officials said bystanders were able to rescue the man, while firefighters went in looking for the dog. Extremely heavy smoke on the third, fourth and fifth floors, as well as the unique and confusing layout of the home, caused several firefighting companies to become lost in the house. All were rescued or were able to eventually find their way out.
Fire officials said two or three firefighters sustained minor injuries and none needed treatment at a hospital. The family's dog, Lulu, died in the fire, officials said.
The 17,000-square-foot, 55-foot-tall pyramid-shaped home, among the most recognized structures in the northern suburbs, was finished in 1982. Officials said the design created challenges for firefighters.
The home serves as a museum as well as a residence for the owners, who built it and filled it with Egyptian artifacts.