Springfield, IL – Smoke from a fast-moving wildfire in central Illinois stretched more than 50 miles across the state Sunday, as firefighters battled flames fueled by deepening drought and harvest-season winds.
According to multiple meteorologists and eyewitness reports, radar imagery and ground observations confirmed a thick smoke plume drifting from Herscher in Kankakee County north toward Monee in Will County and south toward Piper City in Ford County. The smoke was also visible from motorists along Interstate 57 and I-55, creating haze and reduced visibility through parts of the afternoon.
The blaze began in a dry cornfield near 14,000 West Road between Herscher and Cabery, forcing evacuations at youth football games and nearby farms. Local fire crews responded from multiple departments, while farmers used tractors to till firebreaks to help contain the spread. By evening, the fire was largely under control.
Residents described “ash falling like snow” across nearby towns as winds carried smoke across open farmland. Emergency officials urged people to avoid the fire zone, noting that extra traffic can block responding vehicles.
Parts of Illinois remains under a burn ban, with extremely dry soil and low humidity creating critical fire danger through early this week. Authorities warn against outdoor burning, cigarette disposal, or using hot machinery in fields.
No injuries were reported, but officials said the incident highlights the growing wildfire threat across the Midwest as drought expands and harvest activity accelerates. Updated containment and damage reports are expected Monday.
