Controlled burn at Lake County golf course sends one person to hospital

A controlled burn at a Lake County golf course nearly spun out of control Tuesday, resulting in a golf course employee being sent to the hospital, authorities said.

Jim Pellitteri, a battalion chief with the Gurnee Fire Department, said fire trucks were called to the Bittersweet Golf Course at 875 Almond Road for a wildfire that was nearly burning out of control.

Employees at the golf course started a controlled burn in a swampy area, but high winds pushed the fire further out than expected, Pellitteri said.

The fire department initially responded with two engines, but soon was forced to raised the call to a box alarm. The box alarm called out the Lake County/MABAS Division 4 Wildland firefighters, a specialized fire and rescue response team designed to help snuff out wildfires.

Pellitteri said the response team contained the fire to the controlled fire area and prevented it from spreading.

The flames were out by 2:45 p.m., he said.