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Fire, Explosions Rock North Chicago

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. (CBS) -- Explosions and heavy flames rocked the skies in North Chicago overnight.

The fire broke out overnight at 10th Street and Sheridan Road in the Lake County town. Firefighters spent hours trying to save an apartment building and two other buildings that were engulfed in flames.

Two auto body shops sustained heavy damage in the fire, and one of them collapsed.

Chemicals in those repair shops caused some small explosions. No one was hurt, but firefighters did have a problem that required more manpower.

"We were hampered by the water supply, pretty much. We had to bring in a lot of other departments to help us get in the water," said North Chicago Fire Cmdr. Keith Humphries, who added that the fire had drawn "easily 50 to 75 firemen; we've got about five, six departments here."

The extra firefighters came from as far away as Arlington Heights.

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