Garbage fire extinguished at Stickney scrapyard near I-55

A large pile of garbage caught fire early Thursday at a Stickney scrapyard along Interstate 55.

No one was injured, and it’s still unclear how the fire began at Citywide Disposal, according to Stickney Fire Dept. Chief Jeff Boyajian.

Crews were called about 4:30 a.m. to the scrapyard, 5001 W. 40th St., and they solicited the help of a Chicago Fire Department boat to help put out the flames.

“It was hard to get at first, but once that boat got there, we made progress,” Boyajian said.

Most of the fire’s damage was limited to the pile of garbage, Boyajian said. However, a conveyor system used to sort material caught fire from embers blown from the man fire.

The fire was extinguished by Thursday afternoon, but crews remained to spray hot spots, Boyajian said.