A section of Route 47 near Hebron was shut down for hours Thursday evening into this morning after utility poles and live wires fell, sparking a brush fire.
The Hebron-Alden-Greenwood Fire Protection District responded around 4:35 p.m. Thursday to the 11000 block of Route 47 for a report of wires down.
Firefighters arrived within a few minutes and found two utility poles on the ground, according to Hebron-Alden-Greenwood Fire Protection District Spokesman Alex Vucha.
Primary electrical lines also fell to the ground with the utility poles.
The power lines were still energized and started a small brush fire in the ditch line, Vucha said.
Both directions of Route 47 were shut down due to safety concerns. A perimeter was established around the scene.
ComEd responded and was able to de-energize the lines, which allowed firefighters to extinguish the small brush fire, Vucha said.
ComEd crews reported around 8 p.m. that they would need the roadway to continue to be closed until 2 a.m. Friday.
Route 47 was closed from Industrial Drive to State Line Road, according to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.
IDOT was notified to barricade off the roadway.
Vucha said the utility poles appeared to have fallen on their own. There was no evidence of a vehicle collision.
The Linn, Wisconsin Police Department, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Hebron Police Department responded to the scene to assist with traffic control.
The Town of Linn, Wisconsin Fire Department also responded to the scene and assisted Hebron.