WOOD RIVER - Firefighters from Wood River, East Alton and Roxana battled an intense yard and shed fire Thursday afternoon, Feb. 12, 2026, that spread across multiple properties in Wood River, officials said.
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Wood River Fire was called at 12:56 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, to a blaze that ultimately involved yards in the 700 block of Pervis and the corner of the 600 block of Maurice, Wood River Deputy Chief Nate Kamp said.
At one point, four yards and three sheds were involved, Kamp said.
Kamp said a neighbor reported seeing a fire next door, and the first arriving Wood River Fire unit found the blaze already out of control, Kamp said. He said multiple privacy fences were involved, and East Alton positioned at Maurice to get a line in place. Kamp said dry grass helped the fire spread quickly, he said.
“The biggest issue was getting outside one yard and into another," he said. "We had to breach privacy fences to get the truck in right area,” Kamp said. “Once we had everything in place, the fires went out fast. It was just the logistics and manpower initially, and having to get things done in such a short period of time."
Kamp said crews were still working checking hot spots and had returned to check conditions after the fire was initially out at about 2:45 p.m.
East Alton and Roxana were on scene in the initial minutes, Kamp said, adding there were “so many tasks to be done.” He commended the Wood River, East Alton and Roxana fire departments for a job well done in a difficult fire situation.