Dryer fire damages local apartment

Elgin Illinois

Firefighters responded at 3:09 p.m. Saturday to a small apartment fire at the 1200 block of Hemlock Lane on the city's east side, said Elgin Fire Lt. Dave Schmidt.

No one was home at the time of the fire. However, neighbors who smelled smoke and then saw the smoke coming from the apartment door called for help, according to reports.

When firefighters arrived, they found a fire in the clothes dryer, which was left running unattended, Schmidt said.
The flames were extinguished in about 10 minutes, according to reports. There were no injuries.

The fire was contained to the clothes dryer, but there was smoke damage throughout the apartment, Schmidt said.
According to reports, damage was estimated at $2,500.

$125,000 damage in plastics plant fire

Firefighters responded to a commercial oven fire at Suburban Plastics Company on the 300 block of Renner Drive about at 6:53 a.m. Friday, according to Elgin Fire Lt. Dave Schmidt.

The department responded with three engines, one ladder truck, an ambulance and the battalion chief, according to reports.

Within about five minutes of arriving on the scene, the fire was under control. Firefighters remained on the scene for 20 more minutes to ventilate the building, Schmidt said.

The fire was contained in the large oven, but there was a delay in notification as the building's occupants first tried to extinguish the flames themselves, Schmidt said.

There were no injuries. Damage to the building and the oven was estimated at $125,000, according to reports.