From the Mendota Fire Department:

On Monday the 14th, Mendota and Troy Grove Fire Departments and Mendota PD were dispatched to a pallet fire located just south of Mendota. On arrival the first crew was met with a very large, and very hot fire of approximately 8000 wooden pallets. Immediate activation of a MABAS box alarm was requested which went up to a third alarm. Northerly winds fanned the fire and made it more intense. Immediate exposures were protected to prevent any further fire spread. One firefighter was overcome by the extreme heat from the fire and was transported to Saint Paul Medical Center. The firefighter was released later that evening. All the personnel did a fantastic job under extreme conditions. I would like to thank all M/TG personnel along with personnel from LaSalle, Peru, Earlville, Amboy, Sublette, LaMoille, Utica, Cherry, West Brooklyn, Paw Paw, Wallace, Shabbona, Leland, Lee, 10/33 amb, ISP Dist 17, and the dispatchers from Mendota dispatch, ValCom dispatch, and Ottawa MABAS Division 25 dispatch. And also to ComEd. It’s nice to have such dedicated personnel in our area that you can count on when you need them.
Chief Rutishauser

massive smoke from pallet fire

thanks Keith