Firefighter Hurt In Auto Repair Shop Fire In Kankakee
CHICAGO (CBS) -- An extra-alarm fire at an auto repair shop in Kankakee sent one firefighter to the hospital Thursday morning.
The fire destroyed a body shop and repair shop at 120 N. Chicago Av. in Kankakee.
It started around 2 a.m., and the building in downtown Kankakee was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.
The roof collapsed, but firefighters were able to contain the flames to the back of the building.
"That's a total loss. We had a roof collapse, as well as some of the brick façade collapse as well. Right now, we're just working hot spots, and we have about four or five of them; very difficult to get to, because of the collapse, and there's some hidden pockets," Kankakee Fire Chief Ron Young said.
The front of the building, which is vacant, was spared.
One firefighter was injured, but he was not seriously hurt.
"We did have one firefighter get injured. He's been treated at the local hospital, local ER, and released back to work," Young said. "He got hit by a brick that bounced."
The injured firefighter wanted to go back to work, so he went right back to the scene.
Young said the cause of the fire was under investigation.
