Vegetation fire spreads into Chicago paper recycling plant

Posted on Categories WildfireTags ,

Shuts down train tracks near Midway Airport

Fire on the southwest side of Chicago, March 30, 2021
Fire on the southwest side of Chicago, March 30, 2021. Screenshot from Chicago Fox32 video

A grass fire that started Tuesday afternoon near the Chicago Transit Authority train tracks northeast of Midway Airport spread into a paper recycling plant on the southwest side of Chicago.

Pushed by strong winds, it spread into piles of pallets and paper, coming very close to propane tanks and vats of acid.

The fire started around 4 p.m. near Waste Management of Illinois, Inc.’s recycling facility near 48th Place and Christiana Avenue. As a precaution, the CTA shut down power to the Kedzie station nearby for over three hours Tuesday evening, suspending Orange Line service entirely between the Midway Airport and Western stops.

Fire on the southwest side of Chicago, March 30, 2021
Fire on the southwest side of Chicago, March 30, 2021. Image from Chicago Channel 5.

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Bob.