An employee was injured and transported to the hospital after authorities say a fire broke out in an auto repair shop and caused significant damage to the building in Waukegan.
The Waukegan Fire Department responded around 1 p.m. Monday to the 1200 block of Audrey Nixon Boulevard for a report of a structure fire.
Waukegan Fire Department Battalion Chief Todd Zupec said initial reports from 911 callers indicated heavy black smoke coming from a building.
Firefighters arrived and found heavy smoke coming from the garage door of an auto repair shop at 1214 Audrey Nixon Boulevard, also known as 14th Street.
Fire crews deployed hose lines and began pulling them into the structure to locate and extinguish the fire, Zupec said.
Other firefighters performed searches of the building to ensure no one was inside and ventilated the smoke from the building.
The fire started around a vehicle that was on a lift and spread to the surrounding areas and ceiling, which made the final extinguishment challenging, Zupec said.
Firefighters remained on the scene for approximately an hour after the fire was brought under control to conduct overhaul operations, ensuring the fire was completely extinguished.
An employee was treated by paramedics and transported by ambulance to a local hospital for minor burn injuries, Zupec said. No firefighter injuries were reported.
A damage estimate was not immediately available but the damage was significant. Police shut down 14th Street while emergency crews worked at the scene.
The final cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Waukegan Fire Department.