A garage was destroyed and two houses were damaged after a fire fueled by heavy winds broke out Tuesday afternoon in Harvard, fire officials said.
The Harvard Fire Protection District responded around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to the area of Burbank Street and 1st Street in Harvard for a report of a structure fire.
Harvard Fire Chief John Kimmel said firefighters were still responding and learned a garage was engulfed in flames.
Firefighters arrived on the scene and confirmed a detached garage was fully involved in fire.
The fire was spreading to a neighboring structure and firefighters began working to extinguish it, Kimmel said.
The incident was upgraded to the box alarm level through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS).
The request brought additional fire departments to the scene from McHenry County and Wisconsin. The McHenry County Rehab Canteen provided rehab support to firefighters working the scene.
High winds “blew fire all over,” Kimmel said. The fire damaged two homes that were downwind from the garage.
The garage was left a total loss and burned completely to the ground.
Kimmel said the fire was brought under control within 20 minutes and crews worked to perform overhaul operations afterward.
No injuries were reported to any residents or firefighters. A damage estimate was not immediately available.
Kimmel said the cause of the fire has not been determined but it is believed to be accidental in nature.