Hoffman Estates fire sends black smoke into air

Burning rubber mats at Plote Construction in Hoffman Estates sent plumes of thick black smoke into the air late Saturday afternoon.

Emergency crews from area fire departments were on the scene of the fire at 1100 Brandt Drive, near where Route 25 intersects the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.

The fire reportedly began about 2:50 p.m. At its peak around 3 p.m., the smoke could be seen clearly from the tollway and from four miles west in Elgin.

Several curious passers-by stopped their vehicles along Brandt Drive to observe the fire and take pictures of the smoke which had mostly receded by 3:45 p.m.

Plote excavates materials, paves roads and builds homes throughout the suburbs.