Extra-alarm fire extinguished at SW Side factory
An extra-alarm fire at the Solo Cup factory has been controlled with no injuries on the Southwest Side Wednesday morning. The fire at the Solo Cup Company located on the 7500 block of South Kostner Avenue started at 4:20 a.m., police News Affairs Hector Alfaro said.
Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford said the fire was raised to a 2-11 about 4:45 a.m. The 2-11 was canceled at 6:12 a.m., according to Langford who said no one was hurt.
About 200 employees were displaced. Most of them were sent home, although 50 to 60 of them have taken refuge in a warming bus as of 6 a.m., outside the large factory after it was was evacuated, according to Langford.
As of 5 a.m. firefighters "have the upper hand'' on the blaze, according to Langford.
The factory was operating when the fire broke out, according to Langford. The fire started in flammable materials in air handling system or duct work above and below the roof line.
Langford said getting water to some parts of the building had been a challenge because of the size of the factory. The structure is described as 1,000 feet long and 500 feet wide. The roof is made of metal, Langford said, so there has been no compromise to the building.
Langford said the blaze was accidental, though the Chicago Fire Department's Office of Fire Investigation was on the scene.
About 155 firefighters battled the blaze.