2 Teens Charged in Illinois Barn Fires

Authorities in northern Illinois have charged two Crystal Lake teens with arson in connection with five barn fires in rural McHenry County.

The (Crystal Lake) Northwest Herald reports that the 17-year-old boys are both also charged with felony criminal damage to property and misdemeanor criminal trespassing.

The fires occurred over more than two months and caused more than $1 million in property damage.

And Undersheriff Andy Zinke says officials are lucky they caught the teens before they set more fires. Investigators interviewed the teens after getting information from an anonymous tipster.

The fires were set in June and July in hay barns in Huntley, Lakewood, Woodstock, Marengo and Crystal Lake.

The teens are scheduled to appear in McHenry County Court today.