A recycling compactor caught on fire, resulting in smoke filling a large Amazon warehouse in Huntley and forcing the employees to be evacuated Tuesday evening.
The Huntley Fire Protection District responded around 7:04 p.m. to the Amazon Fulfillment Center RFD2, 11500 Freeman Road in Huntley, for a report of a dumpster fire.
Huntley Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Michael Pierce said the response was upgraded for additional fire department resources to respond to the scene based on the initial information received.
Fire crews arrived and found a small fire inside a cardboard recycling compactor that was attached to the building.
Employees at the location had controlled the fire using multiple fire extinguishers, Pierce said.
Operations at the Amazon facility were stopped and the building was evacuated.
Pierce said firefighters completed extinguishing the fire and began overhaul operations to ensure the compactor fire was out.
The Wonder Lake Fire Protection District was requested to the scene with their airboat to assist in removing smoke from the large warehouse.
While smoke went into the building, the fire damage was contained to the compactor.
The building was turned over to facility management after the fire department left the scene, Pierce said.
The cause of the fire appears to be accidental but remains under investigation by Huntley Fire Protection District investigators.