Brush fire spreads quickly in Stillman Valley, does no major damage

STILLMAN VALLEY – A Scott Township fire brought about 10 area fire departments to Stillman Valley Monday afternoon, Stillman Valley Fire Chief Chad Hoefle said.

The fire was near the intersection of East Scott and North Rothwell roads. Ogle County and most of the Sauk Valley was under a ‘red flag’ warning Monday because of high winds and dry conditions.

“The wind played a big factor,” Hoefle said. “When we got on scene it didn’t look like a lot. The fire entered the area of an abandoned quarry and made access tough. We called a second alarm. We got several grass rigs with tenders and contained it before it got over to the next road.”

Byron , Lynn Scott Rock, New Milford, Monroe Center, Oregon, Win Bur Sew, Blackhawk, Mt. Morris and Leaf River departments were called, but not all were able to respond because they lacked enough firefighters.

The second alarm was called because of the risky conditions.

“It’s when we don’t know how fast a fire is moving,” Hoefle said. “You get heavy wind, and other departments come out in case the fire grows a lot. Most of that call was just to make sure we had enough help if it got really big. It had moved into the quarry area by then, making it tougher. Everybody who did show up was put to work.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation, although he said he things it was caused when someone in the area attempting to burn off a waterway.

The fire didn’t get into some fields, but burned “a lot of nonvaluable stuff,” Hoefle said.

People who plan to burn should call their sheriff office’s non-emergency number and alert them ahead of time, he said.