Multiple Fires Friday In Plainfield

PLAINFIELD, IL — A fire caused major damage at Chicago Bridge & Iron on Friday and shut down the facility, along with sending one woman to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, Plainfield fire officials said. In just one of several fires in Plainfield on Friday, about 140 employees were evacuated after the blaze was reported just after noon, Plainfield Deputy Fire Chief Jon Stratton said. ComEd was called in after firefighters discovered the blaze had started in the building's main electrical feed, he said.

After ComEd's arrival, Stratton said it took crews at around an hour to extinguish the fire.

Stratton said it was too early to estimate the damage to the facility, 14105 S. Route 59, adding it could easily wind up in the hundreds of thousands. "They are pretty much shut down right now," he said.

An employee was taken to Edward-Elmhurst Health Center in Plainfield for treatment of smoke inhalation but no other injuries were reported, Stratton said.

During the CB&I blaze, Plainfield firefighters also responded to a report of a semi-truck on fire on 143rd Street. Stratton said no one was injured in the truck fire, which originated in the engine compartment.

Another fire — this one reported at around 1 a.m. Friday — engulfed a barn near 119th Street and Normantown Road. Stratton said the barn was an older structure and was not in use. The barn was a total loss, according to Stratton.

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