A worker suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized after a machine fire broke out inside a massive manufacturing plant in Marengo Monday morning, fire officials said.
The Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts responded around 10:05 a.m. Monday to UniCarriers Forklift, 240 North Prospect Street in Marengo.
Dispatch received an activated commercial fire alarm from the business, according to Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts Public Information Officer Alex Vucha.
Vucha said firefighters arrived on the scene three minutes later and found that the facility had already been evacuated.
Firefighters were informed that a fire had occurred inside the building in a welding room.
The incident was upgraded to a structure fire response, which prompted additional units to respond, based on the updated information.
The fire was contained to the area of a machine and, while very hot, was short-lived and extinguished within minutes of the alarm, Vucha said.
Firefighters checked the building to ensure there were no remaining hazards and all incoming fire units were returned within 20 minutes.
A male worker sustained serious burn injuries related to the fire, Vucha said.
Paramedics made contact with the victim within minutes, provided initial treatment and transported him to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, which is a Level 1 trauma center.
“We were very glad to see how quickly the facility evacuated and grateful that our crews arrived within minutes,” Assistant Fire Chief Craig Pleva said.
“Our paramedics reached the patient quickly, began treatment right away, and transported him to Rockford so hospital staff could continue his care. Our priority was getting him the medical attention he needed as quickly as possible,” Pleva said.
No other injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
UniCarriers Forklift is part of Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas, the fourth-largest forklift manufacturer.
The Marengo location is a manufacturing facility serving North and South American operations with over half a million square feet that features “sophisticated manufacturing and robotic equipment” and nearly 500 employees, according to its website.
The location also featured a 120,000-square-foot manufacturing annex building used as a parts distribution facility.