A fire on Christmas Eve claimed the lives of four barn animals in the far northwest suburbs of McHenry County, Illinois. The blaze was reported around 3 a.m. in the 10800 block of Carls Road in unincorporated Marengo. Firefighters arrived to find a barn measuring approximately 150 by 80 feet completely engulfed in flames. Tragically, three horses and a pony perished in the fire, unable to escape the burning structure.
While one person was transported to a hospital, officials confirmed this medical emergency was unrelated to the fire. Firefighters suffered no injuries. Due to the barn’s distance from a hydrant—approximately 3.5 miles—water tenders were used to shuttle water to the scene. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, but it is not considered suspicious.