Fire broke out at Sterling’s Self Help Enterprises on Friday afternoon, with the initial investigation pointing to problems with a cardboard compactor, officials said
Sterling and Rock Falls firefighters were called shortly before 1 p.m. to the reported structure fire at Self Help, 2300 W. LeFevre Road, Sterling, with CGH EMS and the Sterling Police Department also responding to the scene
Arriving units found heavy fire and smoke at the entrance of the recycling portion of the building, according to a Sterling Fire Department news release
Image 1 of 5
<img src="https://healthylife7.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/I3CXU6JUSVCTHDNBU7FRNRUVMA.jpg” alt=”Smoke billows from the Self Help recycling center Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Sterling. Departments from Sterling, Rock Falls, Dixon, Morrison, Prophetstown and Erie were seen battling the blaze.”>
Smoke billows from the Self Help recycling center Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Sterling. Departments from Sterling, Rock Falls, Dixon, Morrison, Prophetstown and Erie were seen battling the blaze.(Alex T. Paschal)
According to the release, firefighters had to attack the fire from three different places, and a hole had to be cut above where the fire started to help release heat and smoke
The fire, which required three alarms, brought in firefighters from the Dixon Rural, Dixon City, Milledgeville, Morrison, Erie, Prophetstown and Clinton, Iowa, fire departments. Advance Ambulance and Morrison EMS crews also responded to the scene. The Salvation Army, NICOR, ComEd and 800-Boardup also assisted
The building sustained significant fire and smoke damage, along with damage resulting from the ventilation holes needed for suppression or ventilation, according to the release
One firefighter was transported to CGH for treatment of dehydration and overheating, was released within a few hours, and returned to full duty
The cause of the fire remains under investigation
