Fire Breaks Out in Plainfield Township

Firefighters battled a fire reported at noon on Tuesday, Sept. 27 in Plainfield Township. The fire, which left no reported injuries, broke out in a soybean field at the northeast corner of Wheeler and County Line roads. According to Plainfield Fire Protection District Deputy Fire Chief Jon Stratton, the fire appeared to have been originated by a cigarette tossed by one of the farmers that were picking up beans. Stratton indicated that winds going up to 35 mph and low humidity created the perfect weather conditions for “extreme fire behavior”.

Stratton also stated that “the fire burned through the bean stubble [of an area that was already picked] and the wind blew the fire 100 yards past a fire break we'd made into [an adjacent] cornfield. I'd guess about 300 acres were damaged. It went so fast." The fire also threatened a nearby house and barn.

Firefighters responded immediately by calling for assistance from other area agencies. Oswego, Troy, Minooka, Channahon and Lockport Township agencies brought trucks to the scene and Morris brought a water tender. "There are areas flaring up and it's definitely something we're going to have to stay out here and keep an eye on," Stratton reported.

Police closed several streets to traffic due to low visibility due to the heavy smoke, which could be seen from the Interstate 55 between Bolingbrook and Plainfield.

Will County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer announced that the roads were reopened to traffic at about 2:30 p.m. later that day.