Live Power Line Falls, Sparking Fire and Shutting Down Route 31 in McHenry

Traffic was completely blocked for nearly two hours as crews worked to repair the downed line and restore power.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:36pm

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A vast, atmospheric landscape painting in muted earth tones, with a towering thundercloud formation casting dramatic shadows over a rural roadway. The downed power line and burned grass in the foreground are barely visible, dwarfed by the overwhelming scale of the natural scene.A powerful storm system exposes the fragility of the region's electrical infrastructure, as a fallen power line sparks a roadside fire and forces the closure of a major thoroughfare.McHenry Today

A live power line fell down near Buss Ford on Route 31 in McHenry, Illinois on Thursday morning, sparking a fire and prompting authorities to shut down the entire roadway for almost two hours. The McHenry Township Fire Protection District and McHenry Police Department responded to the scene, where they found the downed line had ignited a fire that burned the pole and surrounding grass. ComEd crews were called in to de-energize the line and begin repairs, while a small number of nearby households temporarily lost power.

Why it matters

Downed power lines pose a serious public safety risk, as they can spark fires, create electrical hazards, and disrupt critical infrastructure. The complete shutdown of a major thoroughfare like Route 31 also causes significant traffic disruptions and inconvenience for local residents and commuters. This incident highlights the importance of utility maintenance and emergency response protocols to quickly address such dangerous situations.

The details

According to fire department radio traffic, the live power line sparked a fire that burned the pole and surrounding grass. Police officers shut down all lanes of traffic northbound and southbound on Route 31 from Bull Valley Road to High Street as a safety precaution. ComEd crews were called to the scene and worked to de-energize the line before beginning repairs. A small number of households in the immediate area temporarily lost power.

  • The incident was reported around 8:22 a.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
  • Route 31 was fully reopened around 10:05 a.m., but ComEd remained on the scene continuing repairs.

The players

McHenry Township Fire Protection District

The local fire department that responded to the downed power line and resulting fire.

McHenry Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that shut down Route 31 and issued community alerts about the incident.

ComEd

The electric utility company that was called to the scene to de-energize the downed power line and begin repairs.

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What’s next

ComEd crews will continue working to fully restore power and repair the damaged utility pole in the area.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of utility infrastructure maintenance and emergency preparedness to quickly address dangerous situations like downed power lines. The rapid response and coordination between first responders and the utility company helped mitigate the risks and restore normal traffic flow, but it also highlights the potential for such events to cause significant disruptions to the community.