Crews battle fire at DeKalb pallet company

DeKALB – Firefighters battled high temperatures and a fire that attacked a storage shed and the attic of a larger attached shed at Beau Industries on Friday.

DeKalb firefighters were called to 1300 Oak St. about 7:14 p.m. Friday when someone noticed smoke in the area, DeKalb Fire Chief Eric Hicks said. No one was on the premises of the commercial pallet manufacturer, so firefighters attacked the larger structure from the inside and the smaller structure from the outside.

The fire was under control within 40 minutes, but crews were still working on the scene about an hour later, Hicks said. By then, investigators had not determined where the fire started or its possible causes, nor had they estimated the cost of damage.

Firefighters from area departments also responded, and leaders were taking extra precaution because of the heat.

“It’s very hot out,” Hicks said, “so we’re trying to rehab our guys regularly.”