prairie fire « chicagoareafire.com

Posts Tagged prairie fire

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

Barrington brush fire

Nov 18

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

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