Firefighters beat down flames and put water on burning brush and cattails Saturday afternoon.
Palatine firefighters fought a large brush fire in stiff winds (13 mph/Gusts to 20 mph) about 3:30 p.m. Saturday along the frontage road just southeast of Route 53 and Rand Road. Heavy black smoke could be seen as far as Rand Road and Camp McDonald Road in Prospect Heights. Many shoppers at shopping centers near Arlington Heights Road and Rand Road also noticed the smoke heading north over Rand Road on the horizon toward Palatine. Palatine Rural Fire Protection District assisted Palatine Fire Department with a tanker.
About 15 acres of burnt out brush remained after the brush fire.