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Firefighters: Minimal chemical involvement in Elgin water treatment facility blaze

Elgin firefighters reported a fire at the city's water treatment facility Friday but said there was no impact on water treatment operations.

Firefighters said they responded to 375 W. River Road, where a fire occurred in the building housing large quantities of chemicals. They said the fire caused the fire suppression system to activate and the alarm to sound.

The fire was extinguished by the time firefighters entered the building.

The two water treatment employees in the building evacuated and were unharmed, firefighters said.

Hazardous materials technicians from both Elgin and South Elgin were on the scene to evaluate the hazards involved, but firefighters said there was minimal chemical involvement.

There were no injuries to civilians or emergency response personnel.

The initial investigation into the cause of the fire indicates an electrical motor may have failed and overheated.

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