Hampshire Fire Protection District firefighters responded about 10:42 p.m. Wednesday, January 21, 2026 to a report of a barn fire in the block of 19N000 Harmony Road. There were multiple reports of smoke and flames visible at the barn.
Firefighters arrived in less than seven minutes and found a large gambrel-style barn fully involved with fire, with nearby buildings beginning to be threatened by the heat. Due to the rural location and lack of fire hydrants in the area, additional resources were immediately requested through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). Mutual aid included water tender trucks assigned to supply water to the scene.
The fire was brought under control in about 30 minutes. The barn was a total loss, and two other structures on the rural farm property sustained damage. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters. Tragically, several animals inside the barn were killed.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Kane County Fire Investigations Task Force.
Hampshire Fire Protection District thanked the 19 fire departments that responded, along with the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, Kane County Office of Emergency Management, Hanover Township Emergency Services, and the Hampshire Police Department for their assistance.
Staging for fire equipment was initially at Harmony and Big Timber/Higgins Road, but staging changed to Stockton Road and Harmony Road. Traffic delays or road closures occurred on Higgins Road/Big Timber Road and Harmony Road.
MABAS Division 2 Box Alarm on Box #2-1421 activated by 10:51 p.m.
Firefighters, paramedics and/or command officers from Boone County, Carpentersville, DeKalb, East Dundee, East Dundee, Elgin, Kirkland, Maple Park, and Marengo were assigned on the first level MABAS Box Alarm. The Box Alarm was struck out at 12:51 a.m. Thursday.
A Genoa-Kingston Fire Protection District crew was due on a General Alarm.
A Belevidere fire engine crew and a Carpentersville ambulance crew were assigned to stand by at the Hampshire Fire Protection District.
NWS Weather De Kalb Taylor Municipal Airport
22:55 Air Temp 24.3°F Wind Calm
FORECAST OVERNIGHT WED/THU…
A 20 percent chance of snow before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 12. Wind chill values as low as -2. Blustery, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
Pingree Grove Report …
The Pingree Grove & Countryside Fire Protection District also provided a report, along with photographs of the fire scene.
At 10:39 p.m. last night, the Pingree Grove & Countryside Fire Protection District responded as part of an Automatic Aid request to Hampshire for a reported Barn Fire at the intersection of Harmony Road and Higgins Road. Upon arrival, crews found a Large Barn Fully Involved, with two additional nearby buildings also on Fire. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the Fires in the two smaller structures. The barn collapsed shortly after their arrival.
A box alarm was activated, bringing additional emergency units to support firefighting operations. Engine 1213 was used for Drafting Water, Chief 1202 was assigned as the Water Supply Officer, and Chief 1201 oversaw Northside Operations. Efforts to control the Fire were complicated by limited water supply, downed power lines, and cold weather conditions.
No injuries were reported among civilians or firefighters. However, several animals did not survive the incident. The cause of the Fire remains under investigation. Pingree Grove units stayed on scene until 3:00 a.m. Harmony Road remained closed for more than four hours due to the emergency response.
Pingree Grove responding units:
• Engine 1213
• Chief 1201
• Chief 1202
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