From the Marengo Fire/Rescue District:
Two Residential Fires Under Investigation
On Monday, July 13, 2026, at 9:52 p.m., the Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts and the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 18000 block of Millstream Road in unincorporated Marengo for a reported residential structure fire.
Firefighters arrived and found fire showing from the rear of a single-family residence, prompting the incident to be upgraded to a Working Fire response.
Firefighters entered the home while other crews made their way to the rear of the residence to extinguish flames on the rear deck.
All occupants had safely evacuated the home before firefighters arrived. Crews quickly knocked down the bulk of the fire; however, it had already spread into the attic, requiring firefighters to open portions of the roof and ceiling to locate and extinguish hidden fire.
The fire was declared under control in approximately 45 minutes.
While firefighters continued working at the first home, occupants of a neighboring residence alerted crews to a fire at their home.
Due to the potential for a second residential fire, the incident was upgraded through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) to bring additional firefighters and water supply resources to the area.
Firefighters responded to the neighboring home, where they found a small fire on the exterior of the residence.
The homeowner had already extinguished most of the fire before firefighters arrived.
Firefighters removed sections of exterior siding to ensure the fire had not spread to the interior of the home.
Both homes were occupied at the time of the incidents, and all occupants safely evacuated without injury.
The primary residence sustained fire damage to the rear deck, attic, roof, and portions of the home’s exterior and is considered uninhabitable.
Damage to the neighboring home was limited to the exterior siding.
The circumstances surrounding both fires remain under investigation by the Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
