Firefighters were battling a blaze Tuesday afternoon at an automotive company on Joliet Road in Countryside. The Pleasantview Fire Protection District responded to the call at Chariot Automotive and Towing, 6402 Joliet Road. Firefighters quit pouring water onto the building at about 3:45 p.m. and had entered the building, battling the remaining fire from within.
"It appears to have started in the mechanics' shop," while people were in the building, said Pleasantview Fire Chief John Buckley. He did not know what caused the fire to start. The fire started about 3 p.m. and flames were coming out of the building when firefighters arrived.
"It did get in the roof area," Buckley said. "There was a lot of fire."
A firefighter said a car in the garage was on fire.
Buckley said workers from Chariot advised the firefighters of the hazards in the building, which include acetylene torches, propane and gasoline.