Witnesses observed a subject exit a vehicle and set several areas of grass on fire in the preserve. The witnesses were able to stop the subject and detain him until law enforcement personnel arrived.
Trent W. Schafer, 21, of Kasbeer, Illinois, was taken into custody by Lee County Deputies at the scene. He was charged with one count of Arson for the fire at Green River Wildlife Area on today’s date. Additional counts of Arson are pending for several other fires previously set in Lee County. Investigators also worked with the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department, and additional arson charges are pending in their jurisdiction. Arson is a Class 2 Felony offense punishable by 3 to 7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. It is also a detainable offense under the SAFE-T Act. Schafer is also a volunteer firefighter with the Ohio, Illinois Fire Department.
In combating the fire, the Walnut Fire Department assumed command of the incident. It quickly rose to a five-alarm level as weather conditions caused the flames to rapidly spread. Fire departments from Princeton, Ohio, Tampico, Amboy, Sublette, Manlius, Yorktown, Rock Falls, and Dixon Rural all responded to assist. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources also dispatched firefighting crews that specialize in wildland fires. The fire was brought under control at approximately 3:45 p.m., with crews extinguishing numerous hot spots until after 5:00 p.m. The fire was estimated to have covered approximately 700 acres.
A Special Weather Statement had been issued by the National Weather Service at 9:40 a.m. on today’s date regarding the elevated threat of brush and grass fire spread. The combination of warm temperatures in the low to mid-60s, relative humidity values dropping to the 25 to 35 percent range, and southwest winds gusting 30 to 35 mph led to an increased threat of brush and grass fire spread in the afternoon.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Illinois State Police, Bureau County Emergency Management, CGH Ambulance, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and the Salvation Army.
