Trash bin fire causes smoke damage at Mundelein Goodwill

A trash bin fire caused smoke damage at a Goodwill store in Mundelein on Friday night.

Mundelein Fire Department Battalion Chief William Lark said the blaze started a little before 7 p.m. at the store on the 700 block of South Midlothian. It began in a large, industrial-sized compactor.

Lark said initially firefighters were worried about fire spreading from the loading dock where the trash bin was located into the main building. He said sprinklers prevented the fire from gaining entry into the store. However, an overhead door was open, which allowed smoke in.

The trash bin was pulled away from the building with chains from a fire truck.

Lark said there were no injuries - the building had been evacuated.

Lark said it is uncertain when the store will reopen. "They have to contact a restoration company to do some cleanup," he said.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated. The extent of the damage is still being determined.