Fire consumes $1.2 million in grocery inventory

An Elk Grove Village grocery store is facing more than $1 million in losses after a fire Wednesday afternoon.

The fire department responded to Food 4 Less, 901 Meacham Road, around 2 p.m.

The fire started in one of the aisles, burning through paper products and the storage racks in the area.

Elk Grove Battalion Chief Robert Stecki said the paper products, including toilet paper and paper towels, gave the fire enough fuel to burn quickly.

However, the sprinkler alarms were activated as the smoke and heat reached the high ceilings, containing the fire to the aisle.

Stecki said smoke spread extensively through the store, which was also difficult to ventilate because of its size.

Fire crews were on the scene until at least 6 p.m. to make sure the health department was notified and that the smoke had been cleared out.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The store had to be evacuated, and one person suffered a minor injury and was taken to Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village. Stecki said he didn't have details on the injury or how it occurred. Stecki said the store owners are estimating about $1.2 million in inventory is lost.

Although only a few of the products were directly affected by the fire, the smoke spread to products such a produce that weren't inside containers.

"A lot of times after a fire, it'll be easier to empty the store and restock it," Stecki said.

The health department will oversee the restocking, which includes not allowing canned products back onto the shelves if the labels have been affected by heat or smoke.

"It's going to be a loss for business for a number of days," Stecki said.

The Hoffman Estates, Itasca and Roselle fire departments assisted at the scene.