Heavy smoke was seen coming from the rear of the Wauconda Recycling Center, 301 South Route 12 in Wauconda, after a fire broke out Thursday evening. | Photo Submitted to Lake and McHenry County Scanner

An investigation is underway after a fire broke out at a recycling center in Wauconda and sent heavy black smoke into the sky Thursday evening, authorities said.

The Wauconda Fire District responded around 5:17 p.m. Thursday to the Wauconda Recycling Center, 301 South Route 12 in Wauconda.

Wauconda Fire District Battalion Chief Jason Daun said crews initially received a call for an outside smoke investigation.

Firefighters were responding and saw a large header of black smoke in the distance.

They upgraded the incident to a working structure fire due to the large amount of smoke, Daun said.

Fire crews arrived in three minutes and found a large amount of recyclable material, including a street sweeper, on fire behind the building.

Daun said the building was not on fire but the blaze was approximately 10-15 feet away from the structure.

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It took crews just under 20 minutes to bring the fire under control.

No injuries were reported and a damage estimate was not immediately known, Daun said.

A fire department vehicle responding to the scene was involved in a minor crash at Route 176 and Osage Street. No injuries were reported.

The Wauconda Fire District was assisted by the Lake Zurich, Countryside, Barrington, Barrington-Countryside, Nunda Rural, Round Lake, Woodstock and Spring Grove fire departments.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Wauconda Fire District.