A major grass fire in the Green River State Wildlife Management Area was intentionally set around 11:11 AM. Lee County authorities took 21-year-old Trent W. Schafer of Kasbeer, a volunteer firefighter, into custody after witnesses detained him at the scene. Witnesses observed Schafer exiting a vehicle and setting grass on fire. The witnesses detained Schafer at the scene until officers arrived. Schafer faces a charge of arson for today’s blaze, with more charges pending for fires in Lee and Bureau Counties. Firefighters from over nine departments, including specialty crews from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, fought the flames on nearly 700 acres. Low humidity, high temperatures, and strong winds fueled the rapid spread. The fire was contained by late afternoon.
Authorities have charged Schafer, a volunteer firefighter with the Ohio, Illinois Fire Department, with arson following a fire at the Green River Wildlife Area on February 27, 2026. Officials confirm additional charges are expected for fires previously set in Lee County, with further pending charges possible in Bureau County as investigations continue. Arson is considered a Class 2 Felony, carrying potential penalties of three to seven years in the Department of Corrections. Under the SAFE-T Act, arson is classified as a detainable offense. Agencies are continuing to cooperate as they look into multiple incidents across county lines. More updates will follow as details emerge.
The Walnut Fire Department took charge of a fast-growing blaze that escalated to a 5-alarm fire due to challenging weather conditions. Departments from Princeton, Ohio, Tampico, Amboy, Sublette, Manlius, Yorktown, Rock Falls, and Dixon Rural quickly joined forces with Walnut’s team. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources dispatched crews specializing in wildland firefighting. Firefighters battled the inferno, which spread over an estimated 700 acres, and managed to contain it by 3:45 PM. However, teams continued working past 5 PM to extinguish stubborn hot spots as the community assessed the extent of the damage.
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.
All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
