(Cleveland) - Two Cleveland firefighters suffered heat illnesses and were hospitalized after battling a big blaze at a recycling company on the west side.
Around 1pm, flames erupted at Royal Oak Recycling on Industrial Parkway near West 160th Street. Fire department spokesman Mike Norman says 10 companies responded after large bales of compressed cardboard went ablaze.
Norman tells Newsradio WTAM 1100 that a paper ignited after becoming stuck in a forklift. The fire smoldered for a long time before it was spotted.
Smoke would later be seen over much of Cleveland's west side. Firefighters were able to contain the flames to the outside of the building, but there was some damage inside. No employees were hurt.
Norman says during hot weather, firefighters constantly have to stay hydrated even when they are not active, to lessen the chances of heat illnesses.
(Photos by Ken Robinson/WTAM)
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