Alsip Brush Fire Possibly Caused By Sparks From Passing Trains

ALSIP, IL -- It was a conflagration unlike any other seen in the Southland and something more akin to western state wildfires like California or Colorado, not Chicago’s south suburbs. The great Alsip brush fire on May 1 is one for the record books. The blaze burned furiously for several along a stretch of prairie path in Alsip on a day when the National Weather Service issued a red-flag warning for heightened wildfire risk..

Rising temperatures, low humidity and ground foliage left over from winter helped fuel the blaze the burned furiously for about six hours along 50 acres of prairie along the railroad tracks stretching from 115th Street and Cicero Avenue to 127th Street. The Alsip Fire Department received a call around 11 a.m. Tuesday reporting flames near the 3800 block of 124th Place.

Much of the fire was contained by 5 p.m., but Alsip Fire Chief Tom Styczynski said fire crews spent most of the overnight hours and Wednesday morning putting out hot spots and flare-ups.

“It was mostly tree trunks that were still burning but we got those,” Styczynski said.

Fire officials believe that the brush fire started from passing trains along the CSX and Indian Harbor Belt railroad tracks running adjacent to 115th Street. The wheels grinding along the metal rails are known to create sparks, which may have caused the brush fire.

“[Fires] happen frequently but not as bad as Tuesday,” the fire chief said.

Evacuated residents from Joalyce Drive sheltering in Prairie Junior High School’s cafeteria were given the all clear to return home late Tuesday afternoon. A few vehicles sustained damage and some wood palettes caught fire at Circle Metal at 4029 123rd St. At the end of the day, fire crews were able to stop the flames from spreading to nearby homes and businesses.

An Oak Lawn firefighter suffered a shoulder injury fighting the brush fire and was treated at Advocate Christ Medical Center. Styczynski said all hands were on deck from the Alsip Fire Department, and some firefighters who were off duty pitched in to help. Alsip was assisted by 15 to 20 suburban fire departments in battling the blaze.

Scenes of a Brush Fire