Zion 3rd Alarm Fire & Haz Mat Box 6-17-12 (update)
Wuxi Changchen Technology Co., Ltd , https://www.wxchangchen.com
June 19 12:38:51, 2025
On Sunday morning, a fire broke out at Maine Plastics, a recycling facility located in Zion near the intersection of Kenosha Road. The blaze started in the outdoor storage area where the company bundles various paper goods and materials into large bales for resale. According to their website, Maine Plastics specializes in buying, selling, and recycling plastics, metals, paper scrap, and other unusual materials. They also provide services such as baling, grinding, material separation, and metal detection across their national facilities.
Emergency responders arrived around 7 AM, and the initial alarm quickly escalated to a MABAS Box Alarm. Additional resources were requested, including the Quad 2 Foam Unit—a 1992 Oshkosh T-3000 foam truck—from Round Lake. An hour later, a second alarm was sounded to bring in reinforcements. The Winthrop Harbor and Zion fire trucks set up elevated master streams on the northern edge of the facility, while the Antioch tower ladder was positioned to the south. When the ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting) unit arrived, the Zion truck was relocated, and the water supply from Winthrop Harbor was redirected to the ARFF unit.
The intense flames were fueled by piles of burning paper and plastic, creating thick plumes of smoke visible from a distance. Photos captured by Larry Shapiro show the extent of the fire, with firefighters deploying master streams from elevated platforms and specialized foam units. Despite the efforts, the fire required a third alarm response after about an hour, and a Haz Mat Box Alarm was eventually requested to address the potential dangers posed by the burning plastics and other materials.
As the situation unfolded, mutual aid poured in from multiple divisions and jurisdictions. Units from over ten communities were dispatched, representing five different MABAS divisions and spanning five counties across Illinois and Wisconsin. A total of twenty engines, several trucks, ambulances, and specialty vehicles were mobilized, showcasing the extensive coordination between regional emergency services.
To sustain firefighting operations, Newport Township Engine 1413 laid down 2,500 feet of 5-inch LDH (Large Diameter Hose) to draw water from a nearby pond for drafting purposes. Engines from Paris (Wisconsin) and Pleasant Prairie (Wisconsin) were connected in-line to maintain adequate pressure over the long hose run feeding the Round Lake tower ladder. This effort highlighted the teamwork and resourcefulness required to manage such a large-scale incident.
Even after the main body of the fire was contained, flare-ups continued throughout the day. Firefighters used elevated streams and the ARFF unit to douse remaining hotspots while end loaders rearranged debris piles to expose hidden embers. Over five hours into the operation, the scene remained active as crews worked tirelessly to fully extinguish the blaze.
The incident brought together an impressive array of equipment and personnel, demonstrating the collaborative strength of regional first responders. It serves as a powerful reminder of how modern firefighting relies not only on individual skill but also on seamless cooperation across jurisdictions and state lines. For those interested, a comprehensive gallery of photos documenting the event is available online.