United States (Illinois) - Firefighters from at least 10 different departments continued to battle a blaze at a pallet company along the Tippecanoe River into Wednesday morning. According to Monticello Police Chief Curt Blunt, the fire at Hall's Mall, 222 E. Marion St., began shortly before 7 p.m.

Monticello firefighters quickly called for assistance and ladder trucks from Delphi, Logansport and Rensselaer joined the battle.

Logansport sent an engine as well and Monticello received additional help from Idaville, Buffalo, Battleground, Monon, Reynolds and Georgetown.

The building's natural gas connection was a major concern early in the battle before NIPSCO personnel were able to disconnect it and the electricity.

"Every time they cut pressure on the lines, it flares right back up," Blunt said.

Thick black smoke poured from windows on the building's southside and officials were attempting to determine whether tires were stored inside.

Monticello's water plant sits immediately to the south of the building and Blunt said NIPSCO workers had to re-route power into the plant so it wasn't forced to rely on its generator.

While emergency personnel limited access to the area between Washington and Foster streets and east of Main Street, people gathered on the Washington Street bridge over the river to watch the blaze in the light rain.

In addition to pallet recycling, signs on and around the Hall's Mall building advertise shop space, warehousing and Wharf's Tire and Garage.

According to WLFI TV, approximately 20 homes in the immediate area were evacuated.

The blaze is the largest in Monticello since the warehouse caught fire at Jordan Manufacturing on Sept. 2, 2005.

Written by Pharos-Tribune