Flames burned for hours beginning Tuesday night at a suburban recycling center, according to fire officials.
The garbage pile fire broke out at around 10:30 p.m. at the Lakeshore Recycling plant in the 6200 block of Canal Bank Drive in Forest View.
The plant is located in an industrial area along the Stevenson Expressway near Harlem Avenue - setting up for a potential gapers' block slowdown during the morning commute.
High winds added to the challenge for firefighters, battling the blaze for several hours before reining it in. While it's still burning in some areas, fire officials said after 4 a.m. that the fire was under control but it would take most of the day to put it out entirely.
"The first concern is the water supply," Forest View Fire Chief Larry Moran said at an early morning news conference.
Fourteen fire departments total responded to the blaze, including the Chicago Fire Department, using its boat to assist in the efforts.
"There’s only one hydrant in this area, so water's a huge issue," Moran said, adding, "And the water we do have is limited, which is why we called Chicago to help with their boat."
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No injuries were reported in the fire, with damage apparently in the sorting center and about a half a dozen trailers. Most of what's burning is recycled garbage, officials said.
Several streets were blocked in the area as emergency personnel remained on the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
