Controlled Burn Goes Awry, Burns Through 10 Acres In McHenry Co.

WOODSTOCK, IL — A controlled burn in McHenry County spread out of control Thursday afternoon, burning through nearly 10 acres before it was contained.

The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded at about 3:10 p.m. to the reported prairie burn in the 1300 block of E. Longwood Drive in Woodstock, according to a news release from the fire/rescue district.

When fire crews arrived, they found a heavy fire rapidly moving across the property, driven by strong winds. Several contracted workers were on the scene of the blaze, attempting to control the fire when crews arrived, according to a fire/rescue district news release.

"The fire yesterday was started as a controlled prairie burn by contractors on the property. However, due to strong winds and dry ground cover, the fire quickly spread beyond their control," said Alex Vucha, public information officer with the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District.

Firefighters deployed two UTVs to help with fire suppression efforts, but the blaze spread across nearly 10 acres before crews successfully contained it, according to fire district officials.

Firefighters worked to prevent the blaze from encroaching on several nearby homes as flames cane within 50 feet of backdoors, according to a news release.

"Under the right conditions, a brush fire like this can spread rapidly, especially with low humidity, dry vegetation, and strong winds. In this case, the fire covered nearly 10 acres before firefighters were able to contain it. Wind-driven brush fires can travel at alarming speeds, making them difficult to control once they escape their intended area," Vouch said.

No one was injured in the fire.

Due to current weather conditions, residents are advised against outdoor burning. On Friday, a red flag warning was issued for counties across the Chicago area on Friday, including Lake and McHenry counties through midnight.

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The affected areas could see wind gusts between 25 to 35 mph and up to 50 mph, according to the National Weather Service. A combination of the strong winds as well as the low relative humidity, which will be as low as 30 to 35 percent, and the warm temperatures can contribute to "extreme fire behavior," weather officials said Friday.

Any fire that develops will spread quickly, and outdoor burning is discouraged, according to the National Weather Service.

"With strong winds and low humidity, any outdoor fire can spread quickly and become uncontrollable. Outdoor burning is currently prohibited under these conditions," Vucha said. "We urge residents to not conduct any outdoor burning and to always check local regulations before starting any fire. It is critical to monitor weather conditions and ensure access to adequate water supplies when managing outdoor fires."