HARVEY, Ill.-- An extra-alarm fire broke out Thursday in an abandoned warehouse in south suburban Harvey, and then speread to several adjacent buildings and a railroad track and also ignited a refuse fire half a mile away.
The fire engulfed the warehouse complex belonging to Allied Tube, in an industrial district at 156th Street and Lathrop Avenue, just northwest of 159th and Halsted streets. It generated heavy smoke due to the wind, but no injuries were reported, according to Harvey city spokeswoman Sandra Alvarado.
As Kris Habermehl reports from Chopper 780, the fire later spread to a second complex across the street that was occupied, belonging to an industrial firm called Niagara LaSalle.
The Chicago Fire Department has sent equipment and personnel to help Harvey firefighters; a total of 3 engines, 1 truck, and 2 battalion chiefs were sent to the scene.
The nearby freight train tracks also caught fire. Metra commuter trains were affected as of 2 p.m., but officials there were keeping an eye on the situation.
Around 2:30 p.m., a new fire ignited as a result, about half a mile away in a garbage heap.
Dry brush and grass near the scene also caught fire.
Smoke was visible in a large area of the south suburbs. Because of the wind, the smoke was low to the ground near residential areas.
Halsted Street was shut down near the scene.
A fifth alarm was called for the blaze, officials said. The higher the alarm number, the more firefighters and equipment are sent. A second alarm was also called for tankers, so that water from remote sources could be brought in.
At least two dozen fire companies from different departments were sent.
Habermehl says it is the largest fire seen in the south suburbs in several years.
Copyright 2007 by WBBM Radio.
Republished with permission of WBBM Radio.
