Posts Tagged large brush fire

Buffalo Grove 2nd Alarm Prairie Fire 7-8-12 (update)

Jul 9

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Brush Fire, Fire Department News, Fire Service News | Comments off

More on the large brush fire in Buffalo Grove yesterday.

man using illegal fireworks arrested for causing large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

Fire burns near the power lines west of Buffalo Grove Road near Aptakisic on Sunday. Larry Shapiro photo

Several power poles burn on the ComEd easement in Buffalo Grove. Larry Shapiro photo

The Daily Herald reports that a 20-year old male is responsible for causing the large brush fire in Buffalo Grove yesterday that threatened several homes and resulted in hundreds of area residents to lose power.

A 20-year-old Buffalo Grove man is accused of sparking a fast-moving brush fire that produced a 30-foot wall of flames threatening dozens of homes Sunday afternoon.

Firefighters from more than 20 departments helped battle the blaze, which spread to a number of power lines and ripped through 30 acres of dry brush, officials said.

The blaze, which fire officials said was fueled by dry conditions, burned down utility poles and torched multiple power lines causing about 2,400 ComEd customers to lose power.

An off-duty Morton Grove police officer in the area spotted four people running from the scene of the fire and was able to stop them before Buffalo Grove police arrived. Police said the group was lighting off illegal fireworks, which sparked the brush.

Officers arrested Gabriel R. Horwich, 20, and charged him with criminal damage to property by reckless means of fire, a felony carrying a sentence of up to 3 years in prison.

“We were very lucky no people were hurt and no homes were damaged,” Kristiansen said. “The fire department did an exceptional job.”

ComEd restored power to nearly all the homes by Sunday night, but the blaze caused about $150,000 in damages to the wires and poles, Kristiansen said.

Police said the three people with Horwich had not been charged as of Sunday night, but the investigation was ongoing.

Horwich is due in bond court Monday morning.

The entire article can be found HERE.

A master stream from a homeowner’s yard in the south sector of the fire is directed towards flames under the high tension power lines. Tim Olk photo

The incident command post was established near the intersection of Buffalo Grove Road and Aptakisic Road. Dan McInerney photo

Palatine Engine 82 deployed a deck gun from behind a house on Cedar Court. Dan McInerney photo

Smoke and flames are visible throughout the utility easement area. Larry Shapiro photo

Flames were reportedly in excess of 30-feet tall under the electric wires. Larry Shapiro photo

Prospect Heights Squad 9 and Highwood Truck 37 were positioned on Buffalo Grove Road to the east of the fire. Dan McInerney photo

Long Grove Squad 55 was protecting homes on Dover Court. Dan McInerney photo

Buffalo Grove Engine 26 deployed a master stream from a ball field on Buffalo Grove Road. Larry Shapiro photo

Arlington Heights Engine 4 was in the south sector on Coventry Lane protecting homes that were threatened. Larry Shapiro photo

Buffalo Grove MobileComm provided communications support for emergency operations at the scene. Dan McInerney photo

As the fire was extinguished, the area of involvement became evident. Larry Shapiro photo

Wheeling firefighters continue to wet down hotspots. Tim Olk photo

Buffalo Grove Engine 26 had all of their hose to be repacked. Dan McInerney photo

The fire jumped this bike path to the south and west and threatened the homes visible in the background. Larry Shapiro photo

Tags: Arlington Heights Fure Department, arrest made in 2nd large area brush fire, Buffalo Grove Battalion 4, Buffalo Grove Fire Department, Buffalo Grove Mobilecomm, Dan McInerney, fireworks cause 2nd large brush fire in the Northwest suburbs, Highwood Fire Department, illegal fireworks to blame for large fire in Buffalo Grove, large brush fire, Larry Shapiro, Long Grove Fire Protection District, man arrested for causing brush fire and power outages in Buffalo Grove, master streams used to protect homes from prairie fire in Buffalo Grove, Palatine Fire Department, prairie fire disrupts power in Buffalo Grove, Prospect Heights Fire Department, Tim Olk, wildland fire in Buffalo Grove

Buffalo Grove 2nd Alarm Prairie Fire 7-8-12

Jul 8

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Brush Fire, Fire, Fire Service News | Comments off

The Buffalo Grove Fire Department responded to calls reporting a fire in the prairie behind 441 Cedar Street. Fire companies found strong winds pushing the field fire into tall cattails and an easement for the electric company lines. The alarm was elevated to a Code 4 for the working fire and followed by a Box Alarm and then a 2nd Alarm for additional companies. The access for fire crews was vast and spread out over several blocks requiring many companies that setup in at least seven locations throughout the neighborhoods.

Buffalo Grove, Palatine, Prospect Heights, and the Countryside FPD all deployed engines with deck guns. Three aerials were positioned as well with the ability to place elevated master streams into operations if the need arose. Structure protection was put into place in several locations as the fires came within 50 feet of at least four different homes.

Departments assisting Buffalo Grove included Arlington Heights, Prospect Heights, Deerfield, Long Grove, Palatine, Countryside, Mundelein, Highwood, Lake Zurich, Grayslake, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Wheeling, Northfield, Highland Park, Barrington, Lake Forest, and Libertyville.

Larry Shapiro, Tim Olk, and Dan McInerney all took in the fire and will have images from the scene.

Large brush fire in Buffalo Grove 7-8-12

Tim Olk photo

Dan McInerney photo

Larry Shapiro photo

Tags: Buffalo Grove Fire Department, Countryside Fire Protection District, Dan McInerney, firefighting video, large brush fire, large brush fire in Buffalo Grove, Larry Shapiro, master streams used to protect homes from prairie fire in Buffalo Grove, prairie fire, prairie fire disrupts power in Buffalo Grove, Tim Olk, wildland fire in Buffalo Grove

Brush fire videos

Mar 16

Posted by bgshap in Brush Fire | Comments off

Two videos have been made available from last week’s brush fires in the northwest suburbs as mentioned HERE and HERE and HERE.

Tags: Brush, brush fire, brush fire in Potawatami Woods, Cook County Forest Preserve brush fire, large brush fire, Larry Shapiro, Long Grove Brush 55, Palatine Fire Department, Prospect Heights Fire Department, Prospect Heights Fire Department fights brush fire, video of large brush fire

Brush fire – Potawatami Woods, Prospect Heights 3-11-12 (update)

Mar 12

Posted by bgshap in Brush Fire, Fire | Comments off

Tim Olk has submitted several images from the brush fire in Potawatami Woods in Prospect Heights.

brush fire Potawatami Woods Prospect Heights 3-11-12

Firefighters from Prospect Heights address a growing brush fire in the Potawatami Woods Forest Preserve near Dundee and Portwine Roads. Tim Olk photo

Fire travels through tall grasses in the Potawatami Woods Forest Preserve. Tim Olk photo

A firefighter uses a hose to prevent the fire from spreading. Tim Olk photo

A Prospect Heights Fire Department lieutenant oversees the operations on the south end of the large burn area. Tim Olk photo

The officer keeps an eye on the fire's path as a firefighter tries to prevent further spread. Tim Olk photo

Lincolnshire make their way to another area that is burning. Tim Olk photo

brush fire Potawatami Woods Prospect Heights 3-11-12 Long Grove Fire District Brush Truck 55

Firefighters begin to repack equipment onto Long Grove Brush 55 after all fires have been contained. Tim Olk photo

More images can be viewed HERE.

Tags: Alexis Fire Apparatus, brush fire in Potawatami Woods, firefighters fight large flames, large brush fire, Prospect Heights Fire Department, tall grasses burning in forest preserve, Tim Olk, wildland fire

Brush fire – Potawatami Woods, Prospect Heights 3-11-12

Mar 11

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Brush Fire, Fire, Fire Department History | 7 Comments

RED Center, who dispatches for the Prospect Heights Fire Department, received a call around 4PM this afternoon reporting a large brush fire in the Potawatami Woods Forest Preserve off Portwine Road in the Prospect Heights Fire District. They dispatched the call as an upgraded working fire based on the caller telling them that an area roughly the size of a football field was involved.

Potawatami Woods brush fire 3-11-12 Prospect Heights Fire Department

Long Grove Brush 55 was the first unit able to make it back into the area that was burning. Larry Shapiro photo

The first units reported a header and found a significant fire in the forest preserve. They realized that the fire covered a vast area and would require more manpower than what was on the initial response. Firefighters from Prospect Heights, Wheeling, and Lincolnshire-Riverwoods walked back into the woods with a brush rig from Long Grove. Much of the ground was soft which resulted in several vehicles becoming stuck during the operation.

Potawatami Woods brush fire 3-11-12 Prospect Heights Fire Department hand crew

Prospect Heights firefighters use hand tools to try and extinguish the fire at the edge of the burn area. Larry Shapiro photo

Flames flared up along the burn area faster than the hand crews could get to them. Larry Shapiro photo

Potawatami Woods brush fire 3-11-12 Prospect Heights Fire Department Long Grove Brush 55 Alexis

Long Grove Brush 55 was used to supply handlines. Larry Shapiro photo

Larry Shapiro was at the scene and submitted several images. Tim Olk was also at the scene. His images will be in a subsequent post.

Potawatami Woods brush fire 3-11-12 Prospect Heights Fire Department wildland progressive hose pack

An officer from Long Grove is deploying a wildland progressive hose pack. Larry Shapiro photo

As the fire got hold of larger fuel loads, large flare-ups appeared until the fuel load was consumed. Larry Shapiro photo

The alarm was elevated to a MABAS Brush Fire Box Alarm which brought additional companies including water tenders, brush units, and engines from the Countryside Fire District, Buffalo Grove, Grayslake, Elk Grove Township, and Fox River Grove.

Tall grasses ignited and created thick black smoke and intense heat. Larry Shapiro photo

As the wind carried the fire into the tall grasses, high flames produced intense heat and thick black smoke that cold be seen for miles.

A firefighter waits for a 1" wildland hoseline to be charged. Larry Shapiro photo

Water is deployed as the tall grasses are fully involved on the south end of the site. Larry Shapiro photo

Another line is stretched into position. Larry Shapiro photo

Complicating matters for dispatchers was that simultaneously the Barrington Fire Department had a large brush fire at the box alarm level which called for some of the same companies that would have been due into Prospect Heights.

A handline is deployed along the edge of the burn area. Larry Shapiro photo

Firefighters stretch a line from the Countryside FPD Tanker 411 which was brought to the burn area and used to nurse Long Grove Brush 55. Larry Shapiro photo

An image showing the burn area after the fires were contained. Larry Shapiro photo

No injuries were reported at the scene and as the fire was contained, the Cook County Forest Preserve Conservation Team (wildland firefighters) arrived to complete the mop-up.

More images can be found HERE and HERE.

Larry Shapiro will provide a video from the fire when it is assembled.

Tags: brush fire in Potawatami Woods, brush rig, Buffalo Grove Fire Department, Cook County Forest Preserve brush fire, Fox River Grove Fire Department, Grayslake Fire Department, large brush fire, Larry Shapiro, Long Grove Fire Protection District, Prospect Heights Fire Department, Prospect Heights Fire Department fights brush fire, Tim Olk, Wheeling Fire Department

Brush fire in Palatine 3-10-12

Mar 10

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Brush Fire, Fire | Comments off

Saturday, the Palatine Fire Department was called for a brush fire in the Cook County Forest Preserve area roughly bordered by Lake-Cook Road and Rand Road. Setting up on Dee Road which is west of Rand off Lake-Cook, Palatine’s Battalion 8 arrived with Engine 82 and Lake Zurich Engine 4. They found fire burning in tall grass through an area which is largely marshland with almost two feet of soggy ground covering much of the area.

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These conditions prevented the use of brush rigs and access was gained on foot until the Cook County Forest Preserve District Wildland Team arrived. Several pickups with skid-mounted-units came to the scene along with an ATV equipped with a small tank and booster line.

large brush fire in near Palatine IL Cook County Forest Preserve District 3-10-12

Lake Zurich Engine 4 responded auto-aid to the brush fire. They were on a hydrant with a hose line of several hundred feet leading into the grass. Larry Shapiro photo

The Palatine and Lake Zurich companies stretched several hundred feet of attack line to hit what they could reach and to protect potential residential and commercial exposures.

Larry Shapiro spent a couple of hours at the scene and submitted several images.

large brush fire in near Palatine IL Cook County Forest Preserve District 3-10-12 wildland fire

Members of the Cook County Forest Preserve District Wildland team head into the brush. Larry Shapiro photo

The fire was in a big field that largely consisted of muddy marsh lands. Larry Shapiro photo

A firefighter uses a small line off the ATV unit to wet down the grass that has not yet ignited. Larry Shapiro photo

High winds fueled the flames which continued to rage into the evening hours. Larry Shapiro photo

Heavy winds complicated extinguishing the flames and constantly pushed the fire to new fuel. After Palatine had committed all of their suppression companies to the scene and they had been working the incident for over three hours, they initiated a MABAS Brush Fire Box Alarm for additional personnel to the scene and for others to cover their town.

Low humidity, extremely dry conditions, and high winds combined to create ideal conditions for brush or wildland fires. Larry Shapiro photo

As the fire grew in intensity, additional units were requested to the scene to ensure that the fire did not communicate to any structures. Larry Shapiro photo

The fire spread to the east and threatened a number of businesses along Rand Road. Larry Shapiro photo

large brush fire in near Palatine IL Cook County Forest Preserve District 3-10-12 Palatine Fire Department Engine 82 Spartan Gladiator Crimson

Palatine Engine 82 was one of five units positioned on the property of a car dealership at Rand Road and Lake-Cook Road. Seen here on a hydrant, Engine 82 was supplying Quint 81 which had 800-feet of attack line stretching into the wooded and grassy area. Larry Shapiro photo

Firefighters were able to prevent communication to any structures and struck out the box alarm shortly after 10PM.

More images will be available in a gallery on Sunday as well as a video from the scene.

Tags: brush fire, heavy winds fuel brush fire in Palatine, Lake Zurich Fire Department, large brush fire, MABAS Box Alarm, Palatine Fire Department, wildland fire