Brush fire hits Lake in The Hills

Authorities say the 100-acre brush fire in Lake in the Hills Sunday accomplished what an annual controlled burn does at the Lake in the Hills Fen Nature Preserve.

Still, Assistant Chief Kevin Rynders of the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District said the cause of the brush fire Sunday afternoon remains under investigation by the Illinois Conservation Police.

However, he said, from a monetary aspect, the fire helped more than it hurt.

"The fire accomplished the same goals the district does every year," he said. "The only difference is that, during a controlled burn, it's staged systematically so it doesn't get out of control. This time, it was more strenuous to try and keep it contained."

The blaze began Sunday afternoon at the southwestern corner of the nature preserve, and then spread north through the park, igniting more brush fires along both sides of Crystal Creek.

Wendy Kummerer, a spokeswoman for the McHenry County Conservation District, said no injuries to people or animals were reported.

Eight fire departments responded the blaze, along with the McHenry County Conservation District Police and police from Algonquin and Lake in the Hills.