Throughout the north and northwest suburbs during the past week or so, the skies have been dotted by random headers which have largely been the result of widespread prescribed prairie burns. Occasionally, the fires have not been sanctioned or properly permitted and necessitate a fire department response. Tuesday, while driving through the northwest suburbs, Larry Shapiro followed a header to a prairie fire that was not supervised.

Upon arrival of the first Barrington companies, the fire was running along a line in the middle of a large field. The dense smoke had already subsided. Larry Shapiro photo

Barrington units were dispatched to a prairie fire behind homes on Old Dundee Road west of Sutton (Route 59). While en-route, responding units requested additional companies based on what was a substantial header. They found a large field that had been largely consumed already but with a good amount of fuel load remaining and conditions which would endanger at least one large home with a shift in the wind.

Although flame heights were fairly impressive as depicted here, the fuel load was not sufficient to sustain the fire for very long. Larry Shapiro photo

Barrington’s new IHC/US Tanker was on the scene as well as two engines, a quint, an ambulance, battalion chief, and brush unit. The fire was controlled without incident and contained within the prairie grasses without encroaching on the residential properties.

Barrington's Brush Truck arrived after the initial companies and was driven into the field to wet down the remaining spot fires and the perimeter of the field. Larry Shapiro photo

This shot illustrates the size of the field that was involved. The bulk of the fire was out before the fire department arrived. In the distance there is a considerable area visible which did not burn. The foreground shows the proximity of the fire to the resident's yard. Larry Shapiro photo

A small gallery can be seen HERE.

Tags: Barrington Fire Department, brush fire, brush rig, Larry Shapiro, prairie fire, US Tanker