Firefighters across McHenry County were kept busy Thursday evening responding to numerous weather-related calls amid a tornado watch in effect across the Chicagoland area.
Alex Vucha, the Public Information Officer for the Woodstock, Marengo, Harvard and Cary fire districts, said that firefighters across the four agencies responded to more than a dozen weather-related incidents between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
The calls included a fast-moving brush fire that was contained to the backyard of a residence, numerous reports of trees down across area roadways and several power lines brought down by falling limbs or damaged utility poles.
In multiple locations, including Woodstock, Harvard and Marengo, fire crews encountered live wires in roadways and residential areas, Vucha said.
Two snapped poles in Woodstock led to the temporary closure of southbound Hobe Road, while other incidents throughout the area involved downed lines on Pleasant Street, Peach Tree Lane and Queen Anne Road.
Marengo firefighters also responded to leaning utility poles and lines smoking from tree contact. On Washington Street, a tree fell onto a vehicle and no injuries were reported.
In Harvard, a large tree brought down several overhead power lines along Thompson Street.
Cary firefighters responded to a tree blocking the roadway at Woodland Road and Silver Lake Road, which was initially reported as a wires down call. No electrical hazard was found.
Vucha said fire crews worked closely with public works and utility providers to secure hazards, clear roads and restore safe conditions throughout the evening.
No injuries or significant damage were reported. “As cleanup continues, residents are reminded to treat all downed wires as energized and to report outages directly to their utility provider unless there is an immediate hazard,” Vucha said.
“Special thanks go to our dispatchers and local law enforcement agencies for their continued assistance and coordination during the storm response,” he added.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office reported that Route 47 was shut down between Charles Road and Allendale Road near Woodstock Thursday evening due to the traffic light being inoperable. The road reopened around 9 a.m. Friday.
The weather-related incidents occurred during a tornado watch that was in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday across the Chicagoland area due to the threat of severe thunderstorms.