The mild winter and early arrival of springlike conditions embraced by suburban residents may have the unintended consequence of fueling fires.
The weather is blamed — at least in part — for four major weekend brush fires in three suburban counties, including one that destroyed a barn and killed six horses.
Fox Lake Fire Protection District Chief Ron Hoehne said little to no rain or snow, coupled with unseasonably warm and windy March days, played a part in whipping up two brush fires his department helped snuff out.
"I can't speak for the other departments, but one was a result of dry brush catching fire and the wind whipping it," he said. "It does seem like these fires are popping up early. I can only assume it's because of a lack of snow or rain so far this year."
Hoehne said most brush fires do not spark until late March into late April but die off when things turn green a few weeks later. A lack of snow this winter has meant drier conditions, and more brown brush to catch fire, he said.
Hoehne said his department was called in Saturday to assist when a barn caught fire on the 24000 block of West Nippersink Road near Round Lake. It killed six horses including the direct descendants of Triple Crown victors Secretariat and Seattle Slew.
The stable's owner, Urbano Hernandez, said he was about 600 feet from the barn on his 9-acre property when he spotted the structure on fire. Hernandez said he was able to free three of the nine horses inside the barn, but his two prized horses died of smoke inhalation.
The owner said hot embers from a blaze he intentionally set to clear brush on his land blew in the wind and may have started the fire.
Greater Round Lake Fire Department Fire Marshal Doug Zeigler said residents should take care when burning landscape materials to stay far enough away from buildings and be mindful of the wind.
He said dry conditions now, wind and the dry winter have combined to cause problems with brush fires.Not long after the barn fire was extinguished, about 20 acres of field near Hilltop Road in the Fox Lake area burned Saturday evening, Hoehne said. No one was injured in that fire, and no damage was done to any structures, he said. It is under investigation.
"But, it was still pretty extensive for us," he said. "Especially coming off the first fire in Round Lake."
A wind-fueled brush fire Saturday scorched about 10 acres of grass and marshland in Palatine's Deer Grove Forest Preserve. Authorities said that blaze started accidentally, apparently by the improper disposal of smoking materials, near Dee Lane and Preserve Drive.
What started as small brush fire at 4:34 p.m. grew rapidly because of the wind and dry, long grasses, firefighters said.
No structures or vehicles were damaged, and the fire was out by 10:29 p.m. One firefighter was treated on the scene for a minor injury.
The fourth weekend fire was reported Sunday near Pingree Grove when 50 acres of open field burned on Route 20 west of Marshall Road.
Pingree Grove Fire Protection District Assistant Fire Chief Kieran Stout said no buildings were exposed to the blaze. No one was injured and the fire extinguished quickly. It is under investigation, he said.
Meteorologist Amy Seeley said high temperatures are expected Wednesday, and rain is predicted the rest of the week.
"The best day will be Wednesday where we could get up into the 80s," she said. "The average high during that time is 45 degrees, so we'll be about 35 degrees above normal."
Copyright 2012 Paddock Publications, Inc.
