Wildfire in Illinois

Events

22

Deaths

0

Injuries

5

Damage

$4.7 million

• Wildfire in Illinois, May 24, 2007$2.0 million · 2 eventsStrong winds to 45 mph combined with low relative humidity to create danagerous fire conditions on May 24th. A fire started at an RV business in Bolingbrook near Interstate 55. The fire spread to a camper nearby.
• Wildfire in Illinois, July 27 to 28, 2012$2.1 million · 1 eventA wildfire burned 350 acres of grassland near Rochester in Sangamon County on July 27th. While the exact cause of the fire is unknown, it was likely aided by very dry conditions and northwesterly winds gusting to 25 mph.
• Wildfire in Illinois, October 6, 2024$320,000 · 1 eventA large wildfire burned 400 acres of cropland northeast of Herscher in Kankakee County during the afternoon of the 6th. According to one online news source, the fire was believed to be started from the rear cropper mechanism of a combine.
• Wildfire in Illinois, November 8 to 10, 2010$75,000 · 1 eventA large brush fire consumed 409 acres on the western edge of the Shawnee National Forest, in the southwest corner of Jackson County near the Big Muddy River. Conditions were ripe for such a fire due to the summer and fall drought.
• Wildfire in Illinois, June 25 to 29, 20125 injured · $5,000 · 2 eventsThe prolonged drought and hot, dry weather contributed to a large wildfire in Saline County. About 100 acres was involved in the fire that occurred in thick brush near Carrier Mills. The fire occurred in hilly terrain on mine property.
• Wildfire in Illinois, October 5, 2025$55,000 · 2 eventsA large wildfire occurred near Stelle in Ford County and rapidly spread northeast, crossing into a small part of Iroquois County. The fire is suspected to have been started by hot farm equipment harvesting crops on a dry and windy day.
• Wildfire in Illinois, March 10, 2012$50,000 · 1 eventStrong winds and low humidity along with dry vegetation led to several wildfires across parts of northeast Illinois. Ambers from a fire intentionally set to clear brush are suspected to have caught a barn on fire near Round Lake.
• Wildfire in Illinois, April 27 to 28, 20032 eventsA wildfire burned about 700 acres at the Illinois Beach State Park near Zion in Lake county Illinois. The fire started Sunday night and was declared out around Noon Monday the 28th. Over 150 firefighters battled the blaze.
• Wildfire in Illinois, October 29, 20242 eventsA field fire developed south-southeast of Ogden in Champaign County shortly before 3pm on October 29th.
• Wildfire in Illinois, February 25, 19961 eventDry, warm, and windy conditions resulted in a rash of brush and grass fires. The largest fire burned about 600 acres in the Shawnee National Forest near Elizabethtown. Most of the fires were less than 100 acres in size.
• Wildfire in Illinois, April 14, 20031 eventStrong southwest winds gusting over 30 mph along with relative humidities between 15 and 20 percent and very dry fuel moisture aided a 234 acre wildfire at the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in southern Will county.
• Wildfire in Illinois, April 24, 20031 eventA wildfire burned about 200 acres of mainly grass, brush and cattails west of Morris in Grundy county Thursday evening, April 24th. No injuries or damage were reported.
• Wildfire in Illinois, March 5, 20091 eventWindy and dry conditions contributed to the rapid spread of a wildfire about three miles north of Raleigh in Saline County. The fire started as a burning semi truck. About 160 acres of woods and fields burned.
• Wildfire in Illinois, February 15, 20111 eventStrong south winds fanned the flames of a fast-moving field fire that threatened at least 20 homes on the eastern edge of West Frankfort. The fire burned about 100 acres of land that was formerly on a coal mine.
• Wildfire in Illinois, October 12 to 13, 20151 eventFollowing dry weather of nearly one month, a period of rather widespread and above normal occurrence of agricultural wildfires corresponded to the period of Fall harvest.
• Wildfire in Illinois, October 14, 20201 eventDry and windy conditions created dangerous fire conditions on October 14th. A large wildfire started in a field about 6 miles west of Danforth during the afternoon of October 14th.
• Wildfire in Illinois, October 14, 2020$10,000 · 1 eventDry and windy conditions were responsible for several fires, including a 200-acre wildfire on reclaimed strip mine property about three miles south of Equality.

Wildfire everywhereEvery kind of event in Illinois

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.