A dozen fire departments responded to an extra-alarm brush fire that burned 10 acres near homes and high-voltage power lines near McHenry early Tuesday morning.
The Nunda Rural Fire Protection District responded around 1:28 a.m. Tuesday to the 2000 block of Davis Avenue in unincorporated McHenry for a report of a brush fire near high-voltage transmission lines.
Nunda Rural Fire Protection District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said multiple 911 callers reported flames reaching 20 feet into the air, rapidly spreading across the field and encroaching on their homes.
Additional resources were requested from the Cary Fire Protection District and the McHenry Township Fire Protection District to assist at the scene.
Firefighters arrived within minutes to find at least five acres of prairie land actively burning, Vucha said.
The fire was spreading quickly along the path of the power lines toward the north.
The fire intensified as it reached denser vegetation and cattails, prompting an upgrade to a second-alarm response through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS).
Vucha said additional personnel, water resources and off-road firefighting vehicles were brought in to help contain the fire.
13 fire departments responded by either assisting at the scene or providing station coverage during the incident.
Firefighters successfully contained and extinguished the fire by 2:45 a.m., Vucha said.
The blaze consumed a 10-acre stretch of land between Wright Road and Colby Drive.
Representatives from ComEd were requested and are actively inspecting the power lines in the area for damage. No injuries were reported and no structures were damaged.
Preliminary findings suggest the fire may have started from unattended burn piles located near the intersection of Wright Road and Hilline Avenue but the cause remains under investigation by the Nunda Rural Fire Protection District.
“Unattended burn piles pose a significant fire risk, particularly in dry or windy conditions. Residents are reminded to never leave fires unattended and to fully extinguish them before leaving the area,” Vucha said.
“Open burning should always be conducted with caution and in accordance with local regulations to prevent incidents like this from occurring,” he added.