Police investigating fire at Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines

Des Plaines police have detained a person of interest in connection with a suspected arson fire early Tuesday morning at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Police said officers responding to reports of a fire at the shrine, 1170 N. River Road, at about 2:31 a.m. attempted to extinguish the flames when they arrived, but were unsuccessful.

Des Plaines firefighters arrived shortly after and were able to put out the blaze, authorities said.

The fire remains under investigation and no charges had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon, police said.

No information about damage or the exact location of the fire was immediately available.

The shrine, located on the campus of Maryville Academy in Des Plaines, is the most-visited shrine in the U.S. dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the second most-visited in the world after the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico. It commemorates reported visions of Jesus’ mother, Mary, in Mexico City in 1531.

Every December, the shrine hosts the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which draws more than 100,000 pilgrims from across the region for special Masses and other events.