Fire At Waste Management Building Takes Hours To Put Out

CHICAGO, IL - Fire crews worked overnight and past sunrise Friday morning to put out a blaze that caused significant damage the Waste Management South Chicago building at 137th and Jeffrey on the Far Southeast Side of the city.

All companies of the department responded to the 2-11 alarm at 13700 S. Jeffrey Ave. around 11 p.m. Thursday, when they began working on the fire that spread to a significant portion of the block-long building along Doty Avenue.

One of several updates CFD officials made on Twitter indicates the fire was first contained to one corner of the building, with a "partial roof collapse" having been reported there. Tower ladders were used to help encounter a "heavy fire load." Other crews were working on the interior of the building.

"Companies will be on scene for extended time," one update indicated.

Heavy amounts of water will still being pumped into the building into the morning, as firefighters remained on the scene until dawn.

No update was available on the building's condition as of 10 a.m.

Photo courtesy of Chicago Fire Department Media