Automatic sprinkler helps control Palatine industrial fire

An automatic sprinkler helped control a fire that broke out Wednesday night at a manufacturing plant in Palatine, authorities said Thursday.

Firefighters were dispatched to the Arlington Plating Co., 600 S. Vermont St., at 10:43 p.m. and upon arrival found smoke from the fire as well as water from an automatic sprinklerhead that had activated, according to a news release.

The fire was declared under control at 11:01 p.m., officials said. Crews stayed on scene into the early morning hours to ventilate the building and perform salvage, overhaul and investigative activities.

One employee suffered nonlife-threatening injuries, and was taken to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.

It was the second fire in less than a week in Palatine that was controlled by an automatic sprinkler, authorities said. A sprinkler was activated in a downtown condominium fire March 14.

The fire Wednesday night was contained to the area where it started, though a cost estimate of damages wasn't available. Authorities said the cause remains under investigation.