Fire Consumes Cornfield, Jumps Gravel Road to Engulf Another

A cornfield burns in Will County Monday afternoon, hours after the National Weather Service warned of conditions ideal for extreme fire behavior.

Dry fields, low humidity, and strong winds fed the three-alarm blaze that spread to more cornfields in unincorporated Wilton Township. Crews from several fire departments including Frankfort and Manhattan fought the blaze at the intersection of Wilmington-Peotone and Tulley roads, which is located five miles south of Manhattan and about eight miles west of Peotone, Daily Southtown reports.

The fire’s origin is estimated to be near Kennedy Road, a mile south of Wilmington-Peotone Road. The blaze grew quickly, with winds spreading it about a mile north and east. The fire jumped across the gravel Tulley Road, to another cornfield. Smoke is reportedly thick enough to obstruct drivers’ views, and traffic is being redirected.