Bridgeport extra-alarm fire extinguished; witnesses heard explosion

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Neighbors say they heard an explosion before flames raced through a Bridgeport industrial building at 32nd and Shields. No one was injured.

"It was about 1 a.m. and we heard an explosion. Then the fire was coming from the roof. (It was) very loud. It shook the house and bricks were lying out in the street," Paul Russo said.

More than 100 firefighters were called to the extra-alarm fire. The first crew arrived to find flames shooting from the roof of the industrial building, a collapsed wall, and bricks scattered in the street.

Chicago Fire Department officials have not confirmed the explosion and said the fire remains under investigation.

"I'm told that it's a power-washing and it's a snow removal business. So, of course, there's things that could be in there related to operating those machineries, but as far as what could cause a possible explosion, that's what OFI will look into," Chicago Fire Department Deputy District Chief Jeff Lyle said.

The fire was extinguished around 3 a.m., officials said, and the damage was contained to the side of the building where the roof collapsed. A team from Peoples Gas was dispatched to secure the area.

The building is owned by the 100-year-old DiFoggio Plumbing and Sewer Contractors. The part of the building the company occupies was mostly undamaged, but the offices next to a fire-ravaged wall were trashed.