This morning at 1131 Arnold Street in Chicago Heights, Tim Olk responded to a commercial fire at a glass manufacturing facility. The incident was reported on nwi.com, where details outlined an unexpected situation involving a furnace malfunction.
According to Chicago Heights Fire Chief James Angell, the fire began when a furnace unexpectedly broke down, causing molten glass to spill out like liquid lava. Firefighters were quickly dispatched to the scene, arriving around 9 a.m. Upon their arrival, they immediately began dousing the furnace with water. However, as they worked, a steam explosion occurred on the third floor of the furnace, sending molten glass cascading onto the surrounding structure and igniting a blaze.
The firefighting efforts lasted approximately 45 minutes before the flames were finally brought under control. Following the initial response, firefighters stayed on site to assist plant personnel in restarting the furnace, ensuring the molten glass inside wouldn’t solidify. The Gerresheimer Glass Co., located at this address since the early 1900s, specializes in producing primary glass packaging for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Chief Angell noted that due to both the challenging weather conditions and the size of the factory, additional support was requested from neighboring departments. Units from Matteson, Park Forest, Glenwood, Homewood, Flossmoor, Sauk Village, Frankfort, Steger, and Hazel Crest joined the effort. Meanwhile, Crete, Richton Park, Crete Township, University Park, and Richton Park Township fire departments managed other emergency calls within Chicago Heights during the incident.
Attached are several photos taken by Tim Olk, capturing the scene of the winter fire at this industrial building. These images provide a vivid depiction of the intensity and scale of the event, highlighting the critical role played by emergency responders in managing such situations effectively.
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