By Lisa Black
The Chicago Tribune

WINTHROP HARBOR, Ill. — A four-alarm fire at a Winthrop Harbor boat storage warehouse Friday destroyed dozens of watercraft worth an estimated $12 million but caused no injuries, Winthrop Harbor Fire Chief Neal Wollert said.

At least 75 to 100 boats were stored for the winter at SkipperBud's, located at the North Point Marina, 250 North Point Drive. The fire began shortly before 8:30 a.m., when the first call was made to emergency services, officials said.

"[There is] nothing yet on the cause," Wollert said late Friday. "It's under investigation. The office of the state fire marshal just arrived at the scene."

A man had been working on a boat before the fire started at SkipperBud's, which repairs and showcases boats at the marina, said Ron Levin, deputy chief for the Winthrop Harbor Fire Department.

"The fire started in the northwest corner of the building," said Levin, adding that firefighters had to attack the fire from outside because they could not get inside. "It's way in the back. And these boats are packed in so tight, we couldn't get to it."

Nearly two dozen fire departments from Illinois and Wisconsin responded to the blaze, which took about six hours to put out, officials said. Firefighters used foam and equipment for aircraft fires with the help of the Waukegan and Kenosha airports and Abbott Laboratories of North Chicago, according to a news release.

A sprinkler system slowed the progress of the fire, which was concentrated on seven large boats, officials said.

Marina officials could not be reached for comment.

Its Web site states that SkipperBud's includes a heated showroom displaying 27-foot to 55-foot boats and yachts, as well as a floating display with more than 45 boats.