Firefighter taken to hospital after battling Mendota pallet fire

At least 15 fire companies responded to an extensive pallet fire off Route 251 on the south side of Mendota just within the corporate limits — and one firefighter was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Mendota firefighters assisted by numerous departments throughout the region responded before 5 p.m. Monday to a large parcel of stacked pallets that were ignited and not extinguished until nearly 8 p.m.

Assistant Mendota Fire Chief Brian Fisher said a cause has not yet been determined. Fisher said there was a “language barrier” with some of the bystanders and officers with Mendota Police Department and La Salle County Sheriff’s Office were en route to assist with the investigation.

Fisher said one firefighter was taken to the hospital after being overheated while battling the blaze.

“It was hot,” Fisher said. “Pretty intense.”

At 8 p.m., some of the responding companies began to leave the scene while Mendota firefighters continue spraying down numerous hotspots with an aerial hose.

The site was on North 4099th Road just east of the Schimmer’s Ford dealership, a short distance south of the train trestle on Route 251.