Strip mall destroyed in East Garfield Park fire
CHICAGO (WLS) -- At least three businesses have been destroyed by a fire at a strip mall in East Garfield Park.
The fire was in a strip of stores in the 400-block of South Kedzie Avenue that include a Family Dollar, a beauty supply store and a fast food restaurant. It was struck shortly before 10 p.m., though firefighters are still working to put out hotspots.
Firefighters were called to the fire around 7 p.m., and it quickly grew to an inferno. At least three businesses have been affected: a Family Dollar, a beauty salon and a J&J Fish restaurant.
The strip mall was close to the Eisenhower Expressway, where the sight of such intense flams brought traffic to a crawl, but the fire did not cross onto the highway.
"It could have been a lot of things. It could have been the fire load inside the occupancy. You've got a lot of aerosol cans, you've got a lot of chemicals in there and that could have fueled the fire. There's a lot of paper products and a lot of product, a lot of liquid products and a lot of flammable products there," said Chicago Dist. Chief Michael Carbone.
Two firefighters are being treated for minor heat exhaustion and are expected to be okay. No further injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
