Three Firefighters Injured in Jo Daviess County Grass Fire; Burn Ban Now in Effect

A grass fire on South Rush Road in rural Jo Daviess County resulted in injuries to three firefighters on Tuesday, April 8th, prompting a countywide burn ban, officials confirmed.

According to a press release from the Jo Daviess County Emergency Management Office, the Elizabeth Fire Protection District responded at 3:04 PM to assist the Hanover Fire Protection District in fighting the blaze. During firefighting efforts, three firefighters sustained injuries and were airlifted to regional hospitals. All three are currently in stable condition and remain hospitalized. Their names have not been released. The Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office is currently investigating the cause of the fire.

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In response to the incident and continued fire risk, a burn ban has been implemented across Jo Daviess County and will remain in effect until further notice. The ban complies with Illinois state statute (70 ILCS 705/8.20). MABAS Division 49 Chiefs are working to develop a public timeline for the ban's duration.

Donations to assist the injured firefighters are being accepted at Apple River State Bank, Citizens State Bank, Illinois Bank and Trust, and through a GoFundMe link available on the Elizabeth Fire Protection District’s Facebook page.

Assisting agencies included: Hanover Fire Protection District, Elizabeth Fire Protection District, Elizabeth Community Ambulance Service, Savanna Fire Protection District, Mount Carroll Ambulance, Savanna Community Ambulance, Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Department, and Jo Daviess County Emergency Management. For official updates, contact the Jo Daviess County Emergency Management Office.