Brush Fire Consumes 40 Acres, Takes Crews Hours To Put Out: Beecher Fire

BEECHER, IL — Dry conditions, gusty winds and terrain complicated efforts to combat a brush fire that quickly spread in Beecher Saturday afternoon, fire officials said.

The fire started in tall grass and ran into woods nearby, consuming nearly 40 acres before being brought under control. Crews were on scene for eight hours, working late Saturday night to ensure all hot spots were out, Beecher Fire Protection District Chief Joseph Falaschetti said.

At approximately 2:10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, the Beecher Fire Protection District was dispatched to a reported brush fire in the area of 29921 South Yates Ave. Crews first arrived on the scene within nine minutes of the call, and found a large brush fire burning through tall grass and rapidly spreading into a dense wooded area, Falaschetti said. A full still alarm was immediately activated to bring in additional personnel and apparatus.

Difficult terrain and limited access points complicated efforts, Falaschetti said. Firefighters used residential driveways to get access. As the fire spread, it was escalated to a third alarm, calling for additional resources from neighboring communities. A Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) drone was called in to gain an aerial view to help with placement of crews and equipment, Falaschetti said.

The topography and limited access points presented significant challenges for off-road firefighting operations. The Lake County, Indiana Sheriff’s Department Aviation Unit was called in to drop water on the fire.

In total, more than 52 firefighters, 3 engines, 5 tenders, 9 brush trucks, and 8 chief officers from multiple agencies operated at the scene. The fire was brought under control by approximately 5 p.m., though crews remained on site until around 10 p.m. to cut through dense brush and fully extinguish remaining hot spots. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, Falaschetti said.

The Beecher Fire Protection District reminds all residents to remain alert to National Weather Service warnings. Unseasonably warm temperatures, low humidity, dry vegetation, and gusty winds significantly increase the risk of brush fires. Residents are encouraged to use extreme caution with any outdoor burning or ignition sources during elevated fire danger periods.

The National Weather Service on Sunday warned of weather conditions creating a heightened risk of grass, brush and field fires.

"Any fires that ignite may become difficult to control due to the strong winds and dry condition," the special weather statement reads. "Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged."

Farmland is particularly at risk, the statement reads, noting that wind gusts can cause dust from harvesting to be blown around, reducing visibility locally.

Several agencies provided mutual aid and station coverage to ensure uninterrupted emergency service to the community. Those included: Manhattan Fire Protection District, Crete Township Fire Protection District, Crete Fire Department, Grant Park Fire Protection District, Sauk Village Fire Department, South Chicago Heights Fire Department, Steger Estates Fire Protection District, Chicago Heights Fire Department, Monee Fire Protection District, University Park Fire Department, Cedar Lake Fire Department, Lowell Fire Department, Park Forest Fire Department, Manteno Fire Protection District, Lake Dalecarlia Fire Department, Tinley Park Fire Department, Braidwood Fire Protection District, Limestone Fire Protection District, Momence Fire Protection District, Crown Point Fire Department, New Lenox Fire Protection District, Lake County Sheriff’s Department Aviation Unit, and the Beecher Emergency Management Agency.