‘Controlled’ burn in Woodstock gets out of control, scorches 10 acres; flames came within 50 feet of homes

Almost 10 acres were burned Thursday afternoon in an out-of-control “controlled” burn in Woodstock, Woodstock Fire/Rescue District public information officer Alex Vucha said.

The high wind conditions that fueled the fire are expected to continue into Saturday.

Vucha said the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District was called to a controlled burn that had become out of control at 3:10 p.m. Thursday in the 1300 block of East Longwood Drive in Woodstock.

[ Outdoor burning banned in Woodstock; winds prompt scaling back of McHenry ShamROCKS Friday plans ]

Firefighters found heavy fire quickly moving across the property driven by strong winds, Vucha said.

Several contracted workers were trying to control the fire when crews arrived. Fire crews deployed two UTVs and began fire suppression efforts.

Crews were able to contain the fire, but it spread across almost 10 acres before they did. Firefighters worked to stop the blaze from encroaching on nearby homes; flames came within 50 feet of backdoors, Vucha said.

No injuries were reported.

“The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District reminds residents that on days like this, dry ground cover is extremely flammable and can cause fires to spread rapidly. It is essential to exercise caution when conducting controlled burns, particularly in windy conditions, and to ensure access to adequate water supplies for fire containment. Following local burning regulations and having a plan in place can help prevent dangerous situations,” Vucha said.

A red flag warning was in place for the region Friday due to extremely high winds, low moisture levels and warm temperatures. Wind gusts in conjunction with the conditions can lead to extreme fire behavior, according to a post from the fire department.

All outdoor burning, including by professional crews, is prohibited in Woodstock, the district said Friday. If anyone sees any outside fire, they are to encouraged call 911 immediately. Those who violate the burn ordinance can be fined.

Heavy winds also prompted McHenry to suspend the ShamROCKS the Fox’s beer tent and live music Friday, but festivities were set to proceed Saturday.

The northern Illinois region, including McHenry and Kane counties, is under a high wind watch from Saturday morning through the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. The high wind watch is forecast to bring southwest winds of 30 mph to 40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph.

The risks include downed trees and power lines, outages and difficulty traveling, especially for taller vehicles.

A number of prairie fires have occurred in the county in recent weeks, including one that burned 4 acres near Marengo earlier this week.