Fire Extinguisher Plant Becomes Scene Of Extra-Alarm Blaze
Updated 03/20/15 - 7:23 a.m.
(CBS) -- Smoke and flames could be seen for miles Thursday night, as an extra-alarm blaze engulfed a fire extinguisher plant in the Archer Heights neighborhood.
Roughly 200 firefighters responded to the fire, which started around 9 p.m. Thursday at a two-story industrial building in the 3800 block of West 38th Street.
It took firefighters nearly three hours to get the fire under control. By then, the building's roof had collapsed, and the structure had sustained extensive damage. Even after the 3-11 alarm for the fire was struck out, crews continued dousing hot spots throughout Friday morning.
The factory was fully operational, and housed several companies, including one that manufactures fire extinguishers.
With thick smoke billowing from the structure, crews also had to deal with a water supply problem, as the water supply in the area is private, and there are a limited number of hydrants. Firefighters had to use six fire engines, spaced out over a distance, to pump sufficient water to the building.
"We're running our hose wagon, which carries approximately on mile of 5-inch feeder hose. We used all of it, and that was in order to … do a relay operation. So we went from the fire building, which is about 3800 South, all the way to 40th Street near Pulaski," Fire Department Deputy Commissioner John McNicholas said.
The Fire Department also initiated a hazardous materials response, due to chemicals stored inside. Ironically, one of those chemicals is used in fire extinguishers. Crews later determined none of the chemicals posed a risk.
No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
