Highland business damaged in overnight fire
A Highland business was seriously damaged by fire early Thursday morning.
The Highland Fire Department was called to 200 Plaza Street at approximately 3:47 a.m. Thursday. Highland Fire sent three trucks with 13 personnel, and were assisted through mutual aid by Highland-Pierron Fire Protection District and St. Jacob Fire.
The building is home to Gateway Cylinder Technologies, which creates high-pressure steel and aluminum, low-pressure steel and acetylene cylinders often used for compressed gas and propane.
According to the fire department heavy black smoke was coming from the building and fire was visible on the roof upon arrival. Firefighters entered through the rear of the building while a second crew was deployed to the roof.
“Both crews were able to locate and extinguish the fire in approximately 30 minutes,” Fire Chief Chris Straub said in a statement.
The firefighters remained on the scene and extinguished the hot spots, but there was “moderate damage” to the structure, according to Straub.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by Illinois State Fire Marshal, as is standard procedure. All units were cleared from the scene by 9:30 a.m.
Support for the fire department’s response included covering the station while other departments fought the fire. Assisting districts included Troy, Breese, Marine, Grantfork and St. Rose Fire Protection Districts. Highland EMS also responded with two units, along with the Highland Police Department.
Gateway Cylinder was founded in 1998 in Staunton and relocated to Highland in 2006 to a 25,000-square-foot manufacturing and office space on six acres. Gateway representatives could not be immediately reached for comment.
