Dry and windy conditions on Saturday, March 10, contributed to the spread of at least two large fires in the greater Chicago area. One burned in northwest Indiana and stretched for three to four miles near Ogden Dunes (map) and the Lake/Porter county border. Fire officials said the likely cause was a railroad. Trains in that area start dozens of wildfires every year and the railroad companies usually get away scott free — or at least they did in the 1990s.
Another one near Palatine, Illinois (map) was difficult to access since it was burning what appear to be phragmites in a marshy area. Larry Shapiro published some photographs of the fire on the ChicagoAreaFire.com web site and graciously allowed us to reproduce them here. Be sure and visit their site to see other excellent photos of recent wildfires. All of the photos here are of the fire near Palatine.
Thanks Larry.
