Authorities are searching for the cause of a blaze at a private recycling center early Thursday that firefighters spent six hours battling.
An Elgin police officer noticed the fire, which officials said broke out about 4:15 a.m. at U.S. Recycling, 801 N. State St. The center, between 5,000 and 7,000 square feet, is housed in a larger building.
”The damage to the building was minimal,” said Division Chief Mike Seegert. ”But it was a big fire in the fact that the firefighters had to work very hard to make any progress.”
A firefighter was injured and was taken to Sherman Hospital where he was treated for back injuries and released, Seegert said.
Capt. Jim Saletta estimated damage at ”a couple thousand dollars.” The fire was confined to the recyclable materials at the center and did not burn the building.
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The city`s curbside recycling pickup will not be affected by the fire because the city contracts with a different company, Saletta said.