'Suspicious' Fire Breaks Out At Plainfield Car Wash, Cat Rescued: FD

PLAINFIELD, IL — Investigators determined a fire that broke out early Wednesday morning at a Plainfield car wash is "suspicious," officials said.

An activated fire alarm brought firefighters to Super Clean Auto Spa, at 24037 W. 135th St., at about 3 a.m. The first crews to arrive found smoke showing from the building, which prompted the response to be upgraded to a working structure fire, bringing in additional units and neighboring mutual aid agencies, according to a news release.

Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire in an office area of the building. Crews rescued a cat that was trapped inside the building and took it to the Plainfield Police Department, where the cat received care until the property owner could be notified, officials said.

No firefighters were injured.

Fire officials estimated the damage to the building totaled about $200,000. The Plainfield Building Department deemed it unsafe for occupancy.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Plainfield Fire Protection District, Plainfield Police Department, MABAS Division 15 and the Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office.

"Regular testing and proper maintenance of fire alarm systems in homes and businesses are critical, as they not only alert occupants to danger but, when monitored, they also provide rapid notification to the fire district, helping ensure fires are contained quickly and kept from spreading," fire officials wrote in the release.