Seven McHenry County Fire Departments Help Put Out Massive Burlington Egg Processing Plant Fire

McHenry County Strike Team lined up in rotation during our water supply operation.

McHenry County Strike Team lined up in rotation during our water supply operation.

When I heard that Illinois fire departments were helping put out the fire in Burlington, Wisconsin, I figured some would be from our area.  (Here’s the Chicago Tribune article.)

Burlington is one of the places where my father used to get his newspaper, The Star Reporter, printed.  I made the trip a couple of times.

I reached out to some local fire protection districts to find out local involvement.

It turns out that seven McHenry County departments provided assistance.

Richmond’s Chief Rick Gallas was kind enough to provide the details:

“MABAS Division 5 responded to an inter divisional task force request made by MABAS DIVISION 102 for a Tender Strike Team.

“We were alerted at 4:50 am this morning.

“Richmond sent a Chief as the strike team leader, Harvard sent a Battalion Chief, and water tenders were sent by

  • McHenry
  • Huntley
  • Woodstock
  • Cary 
  • Marengo

“Our strike team was put to work as “A” Division water supply at 6:30 AM.

An aerial view of some of the fire equipment marshaled to fight the Burlington, Wisconsin, fire.

A WMAQ-TV aerial view of some of the fire equipment marshaled to fight the Burlington, Wisconsin, fire at Echo Lake Farms Produce Company.

“Our strike team was demobilized approximately at 10:15 AM.

“I was back in Richmond by 11:00 AM.”


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