2 firefighters injured battling massive Little Village fire

CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) - Two Chicago firefighters were hurt while battling a massive fire in a Little Village neighborhood industrial park early Friday on the Southwest Side.

Emergency crews responded about 3:15 a.m. to the factory yard near 25th Street and Rockwell, according to Chicago Police.

The fire started at a wooden pallet shop and spread to a muffler business, Chicago Fire Dept. Deputy Commissioner Mike Callahan told reporters at the scene.

By 4:45 a.m., a fifth alarm was called along with a hazardous materials response and an EMS Plan I, bringing about 25 fire engines, five ambulances and more than 200 firefighters to the scene.

The blaze was under control by about 5:30 a.m., Callahan said. Two firefighters were taken in good condition to Rush University Medical Center, one with a minor shoulder injury and the other with shortness of breath.

The pallet shop was destroyed, Callahan said.

Crews were still putting out hot spots at 6:15 a.m. The cause is under investigation.