Zion Fire-Rescue District Lt. Ian Kennedy said dispatchers received notification from an alarm monitoring company around 12:23 p.m. Monday for a fire alarm that had been activated at Cancer Treatment Centers of America, 2520 Elisha Avenue in Zion.
Firefighters arrived and found light smoke inside the building.
They also found a charred wall and a charred construction utility cart, Kennedy said. One sprinkler head had activated.
An investigation showed that workers cutting some type of material led to a power cord, which was in contact with copper and flammable materials, being damaged and causing the fire.
The fire occurred in an area of the hospital that was under construction, Kennedy said.
No patients or employees were near the immediate location of the incident. No injuries were reported.
Firefighters ensured the fire had not spread, performed ventilation and shut down the sprinkler system.
Zion Fire-Rescue Department Fire Chief Justin Stried said the hospital’s sprinkler system did its job and contained the fire until firefighters arrived and confirmed it had not spread.
Kennedy said it was a concern that there could have been considerable resource needs for patients, families and employees should the fire have turned out bigger than it was.
The Winthrop Harbor Fire Department assisted Zion firefighters at the scene. A preliminary estimate shows there was $5,000 in damage.
