Firefighters and paramedics from the Nunda Rural Fire Protection District responded at 1:28 a.m. Tuesday, March 4, 2025 to a fast-moving brush fire near high-voltage transmission lines in the block of 2000 block of Davis Avenue near Hilline Avenue in McHenry. The mailing addresses near the fire scene are in unincorporated McHenry, but the scene was closer to Holiday Hills, Prairie Grove and Burtons Bridge in McHenry County.
No injuries or structure damage reported.
Multiple 911 callers reported flames reaching 20 feet high, rapidly spreading along the power lines, and encroaching on homes.
Firefighters arrived to find several acres of prairie land actively burning. As the fire intensified in dense vegetation and cattails, a second alarm was requested through MABAS, bringing additional personnel, water resources, and off-road firefighting vehicles to the scene.
MABAS Division 5 Box #1361 was activated beginning with a Second Level Alarm about 1:39 a.m. at 2014 Davis Avenue.
A total of 13 agencies assisted in containing the fire, which burned a 150-by-3,000-foot stretch between Wright Road and Colby Drive. Firefighters, paramedics and/or command officers from Algonquin, Countryside, Barrington, Union, Wauconda, Cary, McHenry, Fox River Grove, Crystal Lake, Long Grove, Marengo responded to the scene.
Firefighters, paramedics and/or command officers from Woodstock and Wonder Lake provided Change of Quarters coverage.
The MABAS Box Alarm was struck out at about 2:44 a.m.
The cause remains under investigation, but preliminary findings indicate there were unattended burn piles near Wright Road and Hilline Avenue, which may have been a factor, according to the Nunda Rural Fire Protection District.
Thank you to all responding agencies for your assistance!
— Nunda Fire Protection District
The high-voltage transmission lines run parallel north and south, just west of Hilline Avenue.
Weather Observations at DeKalb Municipal Airport was rainy and windy.
1:35 a.m. Air Temp 42.4°F, Winds South 22 G 31
Rain and Breezy and Overcast
Wind Chill 34°F
Relative Humidity 100%
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