Illinois Auto Shop Gutted by Fire

June 25, 2014
Three firefighters were injured.

June 25--Three firefighters were injured battling a fire that swept through a mechanic's shop in Harvey, officials said.

One of the firefighters was treated and released, and the other two were still being treated early Wednesday morning, Harvey spokesman Sean Howard said. "We're just asking the public to pray for our three firemen."

Firefighters were called to the 14800 block of South Loomis Avenue about 9:15 p.m. Tuesday for a report of a car fire, Howard said.

When the firefighters arrived, they were told by three employees of a mechanic's shop that a small fire had broken out in a car inside the shop, Howard said. The men couldn't contain the fire and were forced to leave the building as the flames spread, Howard said.

The fire spread through the mechanic's shop as about 60 firefighters joined the effort to put out the blaze, Howard said. The building's roof collapsed during the fire.

Three firefighters were hurt as they fought the fire and were taken to Ingalls Memorial Hospital, Howard said. It was not immediately clear what their injuries were, but they did not appear to be life-threatening, Howard said.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze before it spread to any adjacent buildings. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Twitter: @AdamSege

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