Haze at Elgin factory brings hazardous materials response

No injuries were reported early Sunday after Elgin firefighters responded to a potential hazardous materials situation at the Safety-Kleen facility on the city's southeast side.

Firefighters were called to the facility, 1500 Villa St., in response to an automatic fire alarm at 1:33 a.m. They found an industrial building with a light haze, unlocked doors and a pickup truck parked outside, officials said. Five additional Elgin units were called while the initial company search the interior for possible victims.

No one was found inside the building, but a chemical solution appeared to be causing the haze, according to the Elgin Fire Department. The alarm was upgraded to a hazardous materials response, bringing five additional fire departments to the scene.

Due to the unknown nature of the chemicals, hazardous materials responders entered with chemical suits and were able to determine the haze was caused by overheating coils on a heater within the vat.