3 injured in Elk Grove factory explosion

Three people were hospitalized after an explosion Saturday morning at a packaging factory in Elk Grove Village.

The Elk Grove Fire Department responded to Clear Lam, 1950 Pratt Blvd., at 11:11 a.m. for a report of an activated fire alarm, Battalion Chief Robert Stecki said.

When crews arrived, they confirmed there had been an explosion in a piece of machinery that does lamination inside the factory, Stecki said.

Three employees were transported to Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village with minor injuries, he said.

Any resulting fire from the explosion was soon under control, but the building's sprinkler system caused extensive water damage, Stecki said.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation, but Stecki said officials believe it was accidental and that a collection of solvent vapors within the machinery found an ignition source and caused the combustion.

The business remained open Saturday following the explosion, but that area of the manufacturing plant had to be shut down.

Crews were on the scene for about two hours dealing with the explosion and investigation, Stecki said.

The Des Plaines and Wood Dale Fire Departments assisted Elk Grove with the case.