250 Firefighters Battle Manufacturing Company Fire

Illinois - A fire sparked by a propane space heater swept through a Back of the Yards paper-products facility Tuesday morning, requiring more than 250 firefighters to put it out, officials said. The fire ignited cardboard boxes and wood and spread quickly at the Rosebud Container Corp. facility in the 1300 block of West Exchange Avenue.

A few workers inside the warehouse evacuated safely, and one firefighter had a minor injury, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Richard Rosado.

The fire, which was reported at about 8:30 a.m., had been put out by 11 a.m. The building's roof partially collapsed, and damage was extensive at the two-story brick warehouse, Rosado said.

The fire was ruled an accident.

Officials said the fire was caused by a space heater in a back office of the warehouse where several employees were working.

Workers attempted to put out the fire with an extinguisher, but the flames had already started to travel, said Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.

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Written by Chicago Tribune