Elgin factory's machine catches fire, no one hurt

A fire at an Elgin factory did at least $25,000 in damages Friday night, fire officials said.

At 5:45 p.m. the Elgin Fire Department was dispatched to the Ball Corporation at 1717 Gifford Road after one of the factory's machines caught fire, Elgin Fire Battalion Chief Bryan McMahan said.

The machine was in use at the time of the fire and all company employees had to be evacuated. No one was injured, McMahan said.

Ball Corporation produces metal and plastic packaging, mostly for food and beverages.

According to McMahan, the fire was relatively small and contained to the area around the machine. The factory's sprinkler system was activated and was able to abate the flames. Firefighters had the blaze extinguished by 6:04 p.m., McMahan said.

McHahan said the initial damage estimate of $25,000 covered only the machine that caught fire and that damages could be expected to grow because of lost productivity and extensive water damage from the sprinkler system. The factory building itself is still usable.