By Annette Newcomb~Editor
It started out as a combine reportedly on fire and ended with about an estimated 100 acres of hay and straw burned black and at least one home narrowly escaping disaster on Sunday afternoon, just over the stateline.
Spring Grove, Antioch and Newport were Illinois agencies responded to the Sunday’s dangerous fire drove home the great concern county firefighters have with the tinder-like conditions throughout the stateline
Salem Battalion Chief Bill Carey said Monday the wheat field that burned Sunday afternoon moved extremely fast and if it wasn’t for the good team work between the 13 departments that responded to the scene, the fire could have easily jumped Highway 50.
The fire, located in a wheat field in the 23000 block of Highway 50, just east of Paddock Lake, Wis., was hot and smokey, forcing the closure of Highway 50 for several hours. Highway 50 is the main, four lane highway that connected I-94 in Kenosha with Lake Geneva.
“I was amazed at how fast it moved,” Carey said. The four-alarm fire drew firefighters from Spring Grove, Antioch and Newport and Twin Lakes, Randall Silver Lake, Bristol, Somers, Salem, Pleasant Prairie and Kansasville, to name a few.
“We used the brush trucks. Kansasville just got done with a big grass fire like this so they brought much for equipment then we requested and we used every bit of it.”
Carey said for a while it looked as though the fire might jump Highway 50. It’s just tinder and there was a nice slow breeze fanning it. Then it shifted on us and almost got ahead of us. We had to really fight to keep it from jumping,” Carey said.
As it was, neighbors and strangers helped wet down the yard of a house located on the edge of the field.
Carey said at one point the fire turned toward a group of firefighters who were forced to flee, leaving 400 feet of hose behind, which was devoured by the flames.
Carey said it was very impressive to see how well all the responding fire departments worked together.
“All the crews really worked well and got the job done. I can’t say enough about all the agencies and how hard they worked…and they all really did a great job.”
Carey said it was important to keep the firefighters hydrated and fed during the battle, which lasted about five hours. Salem firefighters returned the next day to put out some hot spots.
It’s dangerous
Carey said he cannot stress how dangerous the situation has become.
“All it will take is one small spark, a cigarette butt, how motor. It will take off. It’s all fuel.”
There is an absolute burning ban in Kensoha County. “Nothing can be burned. No camp fires, no garbage, yard waste, nothing. Cooking fires in a grill are allowed, but constant supervision is strongly suggested,” he said.
The McHenry County Conservation District has imposed a burning ban at all shelters and campsites. Propane, white gas and charcoal grills are not included in this ban. Site users are urged to use caution when cooking outdoors in these dry conditions.
The Spring Grove Fire Department posted warnings on its website and also noted a burning ban is in effect, noting, “The drought conditions of the past two months have led to a significant increase in the number of brush and field fires.
“Plants that normally would not burn, at least not easily, have dried out and are now easy to ignite. As you may have seen on the nightly news, large areas have burned in Long Grove, Buffalo Grove, Zion and north into Wisconsin. Some fires necessitated mutual aid from surrounding towns, taxing resources. At least two of the fires were presumably started by illegal fireworks.
“The Spring Grove Fire Protection District is asking you to hold any open burning until the drought ends. Most open burning is already restricted by Health Department and Village ordinance, but campfires are still permitted. Bonfires require a permit and we cannot justify issuing them at this time.
“Grills can generally be used safely, however extreme care must be taken with those using charcoal fired grills. Fireworks are both illegal and dangerous in such dry conditions. Your cooperation will make it safer for everyone in Spring Grove.”
This includes but is not limited to:
• no burning brush (plus, it’s against the law until October);
• no burn barrels;
• no camp fires;
• no novelty fireworks (or bigger, they are illegal in Illinois);
• no bonfires (permits will not be issued until conditions improve);
• no throwing cigarettes into your lawn or out the car window;
• use extreme caution with your barbecue grills.
The National Weather Services is predicting less than average rainfall in the next eight to 14 days.
Extreme caution is needed by all residents until sufficient rainfall occurs.