Firefighters from several departments navigated difficult terrain and obstacles to bring a several-acre wildfire under control before it could damage barns and hurt livestock near Antioch Monday afternoon.
The Antioch Fire Department responded around 2:55 p.m. Monday to the 43000 block of North New Venice Way in unincorporated Antioch, just south of the Illinois-Wisconsin border, for a report of a grass fire.
“Upon arrival, crews found a large grass fire spreading through multiple properties,” Antioch Battalion Fire Chief Tim Taylor said.
The fire was near two barns, a shed and livestock.
Additional UTVs and brush firefighting trucks were brought in from the Newport Township, Spring Grove and Fox Lake fire protection districts.
Taylor said crews faced challenges accessing the fire because several ponds and fencing were in the way.
The fire began to travel north towards Salem Lakes in Wisconsin.
The Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue Department responded and monitored a subdivision in their district off Rock Lake Road.
Fire operations were separated into two areas – north and south.
Crews navigated the difficult terrain and quickly brought the fire under control.
“With the help of our neighboring departments with UTVs and drone technology, we were able to find and stop the spread quickly with no additional damage other than vegetation,” Taylor said.
Firefighters remained on scene to extinguish hot spots. Crews were on scene for about two hours.
Sheriff’s deputies were also on standby to assist if needed.
The fire could have been worse if the winds were stronger, Taylor added.
Taylor estimated that around 10 acres of vegetation were burned.