ESMOND — On Sept. 29, 2024, at 4:17 p.m. the Monroe Township Fire Protection District was dispatched for a reported structure fire involving a barn in the 3,000 block of Bennett Rd in Esmond. Monroe Township Fire Protection District responded with an engine, tender, and deputy chief. Ogle County Dispatch immediately upgraded the alarm to a second-level MABAS Box which requests additional resources from Kirkland with an engine and chief, Lynn-Scott-Rock with a tender and chief, and Stillman Valley with an engine and chief.
The first unit on scene within 10 minutes was Monroe Township Fire Deputy Chief Richard Wilson reporting a barn on the ground with active fire and no exposures and keeping all units coming into the scene. Within three minutes of the first engine on the scene, water was applied to the burning pile. A supply line to the first engine on the scene was established. As additional resources arrived, crews were assigned to extinguishment. After extinguishment, all crews aided in picking up the hose and tools and returned to service.
The roadway at the fire scene was closed so that crews could operate around the fire apparatus safely. An Ogle County Sheriff’s Office deputy was on the scene to aid in any capacity needed.
The cause of the fire was due to a bonfire the night before that the occupant had thought was burned out. Due to the elevated winds embers were blown into the collapsed barn from previous years and ignited unknown combustibles. The Monroe Township Fire Protection District advises all occupants to limit any fires during dry and windy days; if burning during any windy days to fully extinguish the burning area with water and not think it’s completely extinguished due to not seeing any smoke.
