Sprinkler system helps contain Lombard warehouse fire

A sprinkler system helped knock down a fire that caused roughly $10,000 damage early Wednesday morning at a manufacturing building on the 1100 block of North Garfield Street in Lombard, authorities said.

No injuries were reported in the fire, which began around 3:50 a.m. at the metal fabricating company on the village's far north side, Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Howell said. No one was in the building at the time.

Howell said the sprinklers played a key role in containing the fire.

"Basically the sprinkler system kept it in check," Howell said. "It could have been a much worse fire."

But while the fire was basically smoldering when crews arrived, Howell said the warehouse portion of the building was filled with smoke and had to be ventilated.

Authorities said it appears the fire began in the rear of the warehouse. The Lombard Fire Investigation Unit is working to determine what triggered the fire, but Howell said there is nothing to indicate anything suspicious.

Firefighters from the Villa Park, Oak Brook and Elmhurst fire departments assisted as did crews from the York Center and Addison fire protection districts.