Numerous brush fires were reported around the same time in the Highland Park and Lake Forest area Wednesday, prompting the response of nearly a dozen fire departments.
The Highland Park Fire Department responded around 1:42 p.m. Wednesday to the 100 block of Barberry Road in Highland Park for a report of a brush fire.
Minutes later, the department responded to the 600 block of Barberry Road in Highland Park for a call of a possible structure fire.
Firefighters arrived to find a fence on fire but no structures were involved. Fire crews reported seeing multiple spot fires along the railroad tracks in the area.
Soon after, the fire department received several more 911 calls reporting more outside fires throughout Highland Park.
Firefighters were dispatched to the 1600-1800 blocks of McCraren Avenue and the 1500 block of Old Deerfield Road.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the box alarm level for additional fire departments to assist.
Around 1:53 p.m., the Lake Forest Fire Department was dispatched to 100 East Old Mill Road in Lake Forest for a report of a brush fire.
Lake Forest Fire Chief Peter Siebert said firefighters found smoke in the area due to several spot fires just west of the railroad tracks that run parallel to Route 41.
The Lake Bluff Fire Department responded to assist Lake Forest in extinguishing the small fires between Old Elm Road and Route 22. Crews coordinated with the Highland Park Fire Department.
Firefighters initially had trouble accessing some of the fires due to limited access but eventually used the railroad right of way to deploy brush trucks to gain access to the fires after all train traffic was halted, Siebert said.
All fires in the Lake Forest area were extinguished and rail traffic was allowed to resume.
Representatives from Union Pacific Railroad responded to the area and were documenting damage from the fires. There were no structures or personal property damaged in Lake Forest, Siebert said.
Firefighters in Northbrook also simultaneously worked to extinguish brush fires along the railroad tracks in their town.
At least 11 fire departments responded to the Lake Forest, Highland Park and Northbrook areas for the fires.
Siebert said he does not have confirmation on the cause of all of the fires.
A witness told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that a train traveling north passing through the area was dropping sparks, which led to the fires.