The Aurora Fire Department responded to a structure fire at midnight, January 31 at a large manufacturing facility in the 1000 block of Sullivan Road. A semi-trailer parked in the loading dock caught fire and spread to the loading dock area of the building. Firefighters encountered frozen hydrants and a fast-moving fire; therefore, the alarm was upgraded to a 2nd then 3rd level, bringing a total of 41 firefighters to the scene.
Upon arrival, firefighters from the Engine Companies deployed multiple hose lines and began to extinguish the exterior trailer fire. Firefighters attacked the fire in the loading dock area and protected interior exposures keeping the fire from spreading throughout the building. The trailer was fully loaded with combustible materials making it difficult to reach the seat of the fire.
The truck companies used their aerial master streams to help with extinguishment. Eventually, an end loader from the City was used to move the trailer away from the building. It was used to open the sides and roof of the trailer and then to spread the burning contents on the ground, allowing the hose streams to extinguish the fire fully.
Fire crews were on the scene for more than four hours and ultimately contained the fire to the trailer and loading dock area, preventing a significant loss to the company. One company employee was treated and transported by paramedics in good condition to a local hospital for smoke inhalation. One Aurora police officer was taken to the hospital by a fellow officer for minor smoke inhalation. The officer was treated and released. The fire is under investigation and the building was turned over to management.
— Aurora Fire Department