Building lost, house saved, no injuries in rural South Beloit fire
The cause of the fire is under investigation and a dollar loss amount is not available.
At first, Rockton firefighters though they were being summoned to a vehicle fire, but they soon confirmed it was a burning building in the 2900 block of Fisher Road in rural South Beloit, east of Prairie Road. Firefighters responded at 3:20 p.m. on Monday, March 17, 2025.
Automatic aid from Harlem-Roscoe, North Park, and Loves Park were dispatched as well. When Deputy Chief Tim Free arrived, he reported heavy wind driven fire conditions and called a MABAS alarm to the Box alarm level, bringing in additional resources from surrounding agencies.
Since the fire was in a rural area and water supply was an issue, with no hydrants, firefighters requested water tenders. Rockton Fire Engine 1401 dropped a supply line at the road and laid in. Fire personnel stretched hose lines to control the fire as well as protect the exposures. The engine operator charged the deck gun as well.
Due to the wind conditions, fighting the fire was difficult. But after several minutes, the fire was brought under control, once more fire companies and water tenders arrived. To extinguish hot spots, large excavating equipment had to be brought in to assist with overhaul.
Fortunately, there were no injuries. Unfortunately, the structure was a total loss, but firefighters managed to save the home which was just 50 feet away. The cause of the fire is under investigation and a dollar loss amount is not available.
Chief Kirk Wilson commented on the response time, "This location is in the Rockton Fire Protection District boundaries. The Rockton Fire Station is located at 201 N. Blackhawk Blvd in downtown Rockton. Our time of dispatch was 15:18 and our first engine arrived at 15:27. Water was recorded on the fire at 15:30. Take travel time into consideration and time for firefighters to deploy hose lines. The response time is actually above NFPA standards. Under NFPA standards, Rockton Fire demographics is considered rural - meaning a population of less than 500 people per square mile. Rockton Fire covers 58 square miles with a population of 22,000. The NFPA standard for a rural fire department response is that the fire department needs to arrive within 14 minutes with 6 personnel. Rockton Fire first arrived with a total of 6 personnel, hose lines deployed, and water on the fire within 12 minutes. You must also take the weather conditions into consideration. 20-30 mile per hour wind gusts and fast-moving fire enhances fire growth. We are thankful no one was injured."
Chief Wilson would like to thank those who assisted with this incident as well as the mutual aid companies who covered our community. "Outstanding job and effort by all."
