A large hay pile next to several barns became fully engulfed in flames and sent a large column of black smoke into the sky outside of Huntley Friday afternoon, fire officials said.
The Huntley Fire Protection District responded around 3:38 p.m. Friday to the 15000 block of Marengo Road in unincorporated Union for a report of a possible structure fire.
Huntley Fire Protection District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said responding firefighters observed a heavy column of black smoke from a distance.
They were advised by the property owner that everyone had safely evacuated the nearby structures. It was initially unclear what was on fire.
Firefighters arrived and found a large hay pile fully involved in fire, surrounded by several barns, Vucha said.
Fire crews quickly deployed hose lines and established a rural water supply at the roadway to support extinguishment operations.
The bulk of the fire was brought under control within 20 minutes of arrival and no damage was reported to adjacent buildings.
The property owner said that a small burn pile nearby may have accidentally ignited the hay, Vucha said.
“Hay fires can be difficult to fully extinguish due to hidden pockets of smoldering material that can easily reignite,” Vucha said.
Firefighters worked extensively to pull apart and soak approximately 15 large hay bales to ensure the fire was completely out.
The Huntley Fire Protection District said they remind residents to use “extreme caution” when burning outdoors, monitor wind speeds and have a water supply nearby.
“Even small fires can quickly spread in dry or windy conditions,” Vucha said.
Residents are reminded to ensure burn areas are located a safe distance from combustibles and to never leave fires unattended.
Vucha said no injuries were reported. The Hampshire Fire Protection District assisted at the scene.
Firefighters remained on the scene until approximately 5:30 p.m. performing overhaul operations and extinguishing hot spots.