This is from Tyler Tobolt: Tyler Tobolt photo Tyler Tobolt photo Tyler Tobolt photo  It's always amazing to see how quickly these crews respond and how coordinated the mutual aid efforts are. The fire must have been quite intense given the number of units involved. It’s also interesting to note that multiple departments came together, showing the strength of the regional emergency response network. Thanks again to Tyler for sharing these great shots from the scene. It really gives a sense of what it was like that night. Wuxi Changchen Technology Co., Ltd , https://www.wxchangchen.com
Around 10:40 pm on November 21st, the Crystal Lake Fire Department was called to 5116 Mt. Thabor Road for a fully engulfed barn fire. The department responded with Engines 341, 343, 344, Ambulances 351, 353, 354, Battalion 330, Chief 303, Chief 305, and Tender 371. They also received automatic aid from Algonquin, including a chief, a tower ladder, and a McHenry engine as RIT (Rapid Intervention Team).
Shortly after, Ambulance 353 arrived and reported a fully involved pole barn with an exposure. They requested MABAS Box 5-371 at the second alarm level. Additional units were en route, including engines from Huntley and Barrington Countryside, tenders from Woodstock, Wauconda, Wonder Lake, Fox River Grove, and McHenry. A Barrington truck was also on the way, along with a Cary squad equipped with a cascade system. EMS units from Carpentersville, West Dundee, and East Dundee, plus chiefs from McHenry (RIT), Woodstock, and Huntley, were heading in. Special equipment included Rehab South, an Algonquin Safety Officer, a Cary Safety Officer, AMA 56, a Huntley Safety Officer, and the Salvation Army Canteen.
Later, a Lake Zurich engine and Pingree Grove ambulance were moved to Fire Station 1. About an hour and a half into the incident, command upgraded to the third alarm level, bringing in a Lake Zurich engine, tenders from Richmond, Marengo, and Union, a Cary chief, Rehab North, Air 5, and a Fox Lake engine for a change of quarters. After the third alarm, three additional engine companies arrived from Hampshire, Rutland Dundee, and South Elgin.
These photos were taken from a subdivision just west of the fire scene.
Thanks, Tyler Tobolt.
September 24, 2025