On Monday, December 2, at approximately 6:50 p.m., the Manhattan Fire Protection District (MFPD) was dispatched to a reported fully involved barn fire in the 4000 block of Church Road in Peotone.
The first units arrived on scene within five minutes of the initial call for service. Fire crews reported heavy smoke and flames showing from a fully involved 50’x 70’ outbuilding. A full still alarm was activated for additional personnel and equipment. Firefighters quickly established a rural water supply and immediately began fire attack on the building. Fire crews protected exposure to help move livestock. The fire was controlled and contained before reaching any nearby structures and extinguished within 60 minutes.
All occupants safely evacuated the building, and no injuries were reported by civilians or firefighters. Tragically and despite all efforts, some animals did perish in the fire. The cause of the fire currently is under investigation by MABAS 19 Investigators.
Multiple agencies were on the scene and at the Manhattan Fire Stations to cover any additional calls for service during that time. These included Beecher, Richton Park, Crete, Manteno, New Lenox, Monee, Frankfort, Bourbonnais, Crete Township, Mokena, Orland, Elwood, Park Forest, and University Park Fire Protection Districts.