Crime & Safety

Spark from Train Ignites Brush Fire in Unincorporated Hinsdale

Six- to 10-acre blaze burned brush behind Rachel Court.

A spark from a passing freight train ignited a brush fire in unincorporated Hinsdale around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Tri-State fire officials said. 

The fire stretched the length between about five electric towers heading west in a valley behind Rachel Court, said Deputy Fire Chief Paul Ross. It came within about 200 feet of nearby houses, none of which were damaged, he said. 

Five departments responded to the blaze, which was under control by about 3 p.m., he said.

Find out what's happening in Hinsdale-Clarendon Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Tri-State used the Waterfall Glen access roads near Cass Avenue and Bluff Road in Darien to reach the blaze, he said.

“It was very difficult to get to,” he said.

Find out what's happening in Hinsdale-Clarendon Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This type of incident occurs at least once a year when an object like a rock jams in a train wheel, creating sparks that set fire to the surrounding grass, Ross said.

“We’re used to these things,” Ross said. “Usually we escalate early because it’s good to have more help than not enough.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills