14 acres, farm machinery burn in Harvard-area fire, 3rd uncontrolled brush fire in recent weeks in county

Fourteen acres were scorched in a brush fire Thursday afternoon near Harvard.

The Harvard Fire Protection District was called at 2:30 p.m. to the 20700 block of Lembcke Road for a reported brush fire, Harvard Fire Protection District public information officer Alex Vucha said.

[ More photos: Firefighters work scene of brush fire ]

When they arrived, responders found heavy fire spreading across open fields and grasslands, fueled by strong winds and dry ground cover, Vucha said. There were no fire hydrants available, and water had to be transported to the scene using a tender shuttle operation.

[ The smoke seen in Lake in the Hills this was a prescribed burn; flooding is next hazard ]

The incident was upgraded through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System to the second level because of a need for continuous water supply, additional manpower and all-terrain vehicles to access the fire, Vucha said.

Fourteen acres of land were burned, and various lawn tractors and small machinery were lost in the fire. Several structures were threatened, but crews were able to protect them from damage. No injuries were reported, Vucha said.

Crews were at the scene extinguishing remaining hot spots but cleared the area about 5 p.m. Vucha said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Harvard Fire Protection District urged residents to use caution with open burns, particularly during dry and windy conditions. Always check local regulations, never leave a fire unattended, and have a water source readily available, Vucha said.

It was the third brush fire in McHenry County in recent weeks. In mid-January, a brush fire burned 18 acres near Huntley and, last week, a smaller brush fire in Bull Valley was extinguished by responders in less than 30 minutes.

A controlled burn took place Wednesday in Lake in the Hills, prompting questions to fire officials and on social media about a plume of smoke seen in the area.

The National Weather Service had warned of an elevated risk of grass fires because of a combination of high winds and dry conditions.