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Fire Rips Through Solo Cup Plant On Southwest Side

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Nov 4, 2009 6:34 am US/Central

Fire Rips Through Solo Cup Plant On Southwest Side

No Injuries, But Traffic Headaches Affected

CHICAGO (CBS) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: An extra-alarm fire broke out overnight at the Solo Cup factory on the city's Southwest Side. Hundreds of people stood outside a block away.
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An extra-alarm fire broke out early Wednesday at the Solo Cup factory on the city's Southwest Side.

The fire broke out around 4:20 a.m. at the factory, located at 7575 S. Kostner Ave. near the Ford City Mall, authorities said.

Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford said the fire was raised to a 2-11 alarm about 4:45 a.m.

About 200 employees could be seen standing -- chilly and coatless -- a block from the large factory after it was evacuated.

Most of the employees were sent home, although 50 to 60 of them have taken refuge in a Chicago Transit Authority warming bus as of 6 a.m., outside the large factory after it was was evacuated, according to Langford.

The fire was under control by the 5 a.m. hour. There were no injuries.

The factory was operating when the fire broke out, according to Langford. The fire started in flammable materials in air handling system or duct work above and below the roof line.

Langford said getting water to some parts of the building had been a challenege because of the size of the factory. The structure is described as 1,000 feet long and 500 feet wide. The roof is made of metal, Langford said, so there has been no compromise to the building.

In the wake of the fire, CBS 2's Susan Carlson says to expect a traffic mess. The CTA rerouted the No. 54B bus around the area.

CBS 2's Susan Carlson and the Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.