An investigation is underway after a fire fully engulfed a mobile home on a vacant property near McHenry, which led to firefighters being challenged in accessing it Tuesday evening.
The McHenry Township Fire Protection District and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 8:48 p.m. Tuesday to the 1000 block of West Broadway Street in unincorporated McHenry for a report of a structure fire.
Fire department radio traffic indicated firefighters arrived and saw something on fire in a closed-off property but were unable to immediately tell what was on fire.
McHenry Township Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Paul Polep said firefighters encountered challenges in accessing the property.
The property appeared to be for sale and reportedly had a locked gate.
Firefighters worked to gain access where they discovered a mobile home, approximately 25 feet by 50 feet, on fire, Polep said.
The mobile home was fully engulfed in flames and located approximately 400 feet from the roadway.
Polep said firefighters pulled a hose line and began extinguishing the fire before entering the structure to extinguish the remaining fire.
The incident was handled by the McHenry Township Fire Protection District and did not require any nearby fire departments to assist.
The fire was brought under control within approximately 30 minutes, Polep said.
Fire crews remained on the scene to extinguish remaining hot spots and ensure the fire was fully extinguished.
There were no reported civilian or firefighter injuries and no residents were displaced, Polep said.
Broadway Street was shut down by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office during the incident.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the McHenry Township Fire Protection District.
The fire district issued a general safety message to residents that fires can start when heat builds up near burnt items.
“This can happen when a hot light bulb is near burnt items, such as cloth or paper or when a cord is placed under a carpet. Replace any electrical cords that are frayed or have exposed wiring. Do not overload circuit breakers or fuses,” the district said.