Fireworks Likely Source Of Plainfield Brush Fire: Stratton

PLAINFIELD, IL — Plainfield fire crews responded to two brush fires at the same time, one of which is believed to have been started by fireworks, Fire Chief Jon Stratton said.

Around 4 p.m. Monday, Stratton said firefighters responded to a fire along the train tracks at Lockport Street and Renwick Road — an area that is inaccessible by fire trucks. As crews battled the fire, Stratton said officials notified Canadian National Railway to slow trains down to avoid the blaze.

Stratton said it's unclear how that fire started, but noted that sometimes sparks from trains can ignite dry grass near the tracks.

At the same time, firefighters responded to a brush fire discovered by the Will County Forest Preserve District near Turtle Lake in Lake Renwick Preserve.

Investigators found fireworks inside logs at the site of the blaze, Stratton said.

"I can't stress enough, they're illegal," Stratton said of fireworks," and I can't stress enough how dry it is right now."

A stretch of dry weather makes lighting off fireworks even more dangerous, he said.

Both fires were extinguished and no injuries were reported.

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