Dry breezy conditions turn controlled burn into a quickly spreading blaze

 

[November 05, 2020] 

On Tuesday, November 3rd at 12:19 p.m., the Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District was called out to a grass fire on Interstate 55 near the 126.5 mile marker. The initial response for the department was with its brush truck and a water tanker.

Soon after the first units arrived on the scene the fire spread quickly, making in necessary to dispatch additional units to the scene including those from the surrounding communities.

A request was made for additional resources from LRFPD, an engine from Lincoln City and a tanker from Hartsburg.

The fire originated at a residence in the 900 block of 1750 Street who had a brush pile burning. With the gusty winds as well as the dry grass and low humidity, the fire spread quickly.

Units were directed to the area behind the property where brush, trees, grass, and a gazebo were on fire. The residential brush fire jumped the roadway and got into the median area around the 55/155 split. Smoke caused major visibility problems on the highway. The Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois State Police responded to the fire to assist with traffic control on the interstate.

At that time two separate areas of the scene were set up: one on the interstate and another on the property where the fire started. Lincoln city fire sent an additional engine to assist on the interstate and a brush truck from Atlanta was also sent to assist on the highway.

Additional response was also required at the residential site. The Hartsburg fire department responded with an engine and the Middletown department arrived with a water tanker. Additional personnel from Lincoln Rural also responded to the 1750 Street location with a UTV to assist with extinguishing smaller spot fires along the fence line that divides the property from the interstate.

Once all fire on the highway had been extinguished, Atlanta and Lincoln were cleared and the remaining Hartsburg and Lincoln Rural moved to the property of origin to get the last of the areas of fire extinguished.

All remaining units cleared at 2:53 p.m.

[Chief Chris Buse, LRFPD/Nila Smith]