Employee injured in DeKalb industrial fire

DeKALB – One employee suffered an injury in an industrial fire at a DeKalb Nehring Electrical Works building Sunday, authorities said.

The DeKalb Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at about 12:07 p.m. Sunday at 1434 E. Lincoln Highway, the home of Nehring Electrical Works Co. which manufactures wire and cable products, according to a news release.

When crews arrived, they saw heavy smoke coming from multiple sides of the single-story industrial building. Firefighters brought a hose line inside, where the source of the flames were located in equipment and machinery, according to the release. The building was evacuated.

One employee was treated by paramedics for a minor injury and released on the scene, according to the DeKalb Fire Department. No firefighters reported injuries.

Authorities estimated the fire caused about $5 million in damages to the Nehring building.

Crews brought the fire under control in about 45 minutes, but remained on the scene at the industrial complex for about 2 and ½ hours.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, DeKalb authorities said.

Crews from Sycamore, Cortland, Genoa-Kingston and Maple Park emergency agencies assisted in the response.

The 114-year-old electrical company expanded to the East Lincoln Highway location in 2022, according to city documents. Tennessee-based Mueller Industries Inc. acquired Nehring Electrical for $575 million in April.