A large barn, which was directly next to a large propane tank, sustained approximately $450,000 in damage during a three-alarm fire near Hebron Friday morning.
The Hebron-Alden-Greenwood Fire Protection District responded around 4:46 a.m. Friday to Geils Farms, 14101 Durkee Road in unincorporated Harvard for a report of a structure fire.
Hebron-Alden-Greenwood Fire Protection District Chief Thomas Linneman said firefighters arrived on the scene to find a large pole barn with heavy flames through the roof of the building.
The barn was situated directly next to a “very large” propane storage tank, Linneman said.
The incident was eventually upgraded to a third alarm through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS).
Linneman said the size of the building, the rural location and the direct exposure to the propane tank played a role in upgrading the incident.
The Richmond, Wonder Lake, Spring Grove, Harvard and Woodstock fire districts initially responded to the call to assist.
After it was upgraded, the Marengo, Union, Crystal Lake, Boone, Capron, Huntley, Nunda and Fox Lake fire departments responded as well.
Fire departments from Wisconsin also responded, including Walworth, Bloomfield, Delavan, Lake Geneva, Salem Lakes, Darien, Lyons, Delavan and Williams Bay.
Linneman said firefighters brought the fire under control by around 6 a.m. and prevented damage to the large propane tank.
The McHenry County Salvation Army Canteen and Mercyhealth MD-1 assisted with rehab and firefighter safety.
Firefighters from McHenry stood by at Hebron’s fire station to cover additional calls.
Fire crews remained at the scene until 11 a.m. monitoring the barn for hot spots. No animals were in the barn but vehicles inside of it were destroyed.
Damage is estimated at $450,000 and the cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Hebron-Alden-Greenwood Fire Protection District and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.
The cause of the fire appears to be accidental in nature, Linneman said.