A small fire inside a U.S. Postal Service sorting facility at 2591 Busse Rd., Elk Grove Village, drew a large response from firefighters just before noon Monday (March 24).
A worker was grinding a bolt from the floor of the massive facility as part of an operation to remove a machine, Deputy Elk Grove Village Fire Chief Clint Cunz said.
The bolt became red hot from the grinding, then became free and shot across the room, striking paper and cardboard under another machine and setting the paper ablaze. The fire was kept in check by a sprinkler, which engaged, Cunz said.
Cunz said there were only three or four people in the building at the time of the fire, who all safely evacuated. No injuries were reported.
Because of the size of the building, it took firefighters some time to carry hoses to reach the fire. Once the fire was extinguished, firefighters used a special truck-mounted fan to clear smoke from the building.