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3 Firefighters Injured Battling Auto Shop Fire In Harvey

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Three firefighters were injured Tuesday night while battling a very large fire at an auto body shop in south suburban Harvey.

CBS 2's Susanna Song reports workers told firefighters the blaze started by accident around 9:15 p.m. inside a mechanic shop at 148th Street and Loomis Avenue. The workers tried to put it out themselves, but the flames continued to get bigger and bigger.

"The workers did express that they could not contain the small fire which they came across, and then they just abandoned ship," Harvey spokesman Sean Howard said.

When firefighters arrived, the entire building was engulfed in flames as the blaze burned out of control. Howard said the roof of the building collapsed as firefighters battled the heavy flames.

Three Harvey firefighters were injured while working to put out the fire. They were taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

A total of about 60 firefighters from five townships responded to the blaze.

Fire officials said the important lesson was to call 911 right away if there's a fire, even if it's small.

The cause of the fire was under investigation Wednesday morning.

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