ATF Boosts Investigation Into Flea Market Fire
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Fire investigators are adding additional members from the Bureau Of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms as authorities try to determine the cause of a massive fire that destroyed a West Side flea market.
At the outset, local ATF investigators have been assisting the Chicago Fire Department at Buyers Flea Market, in the 4500 block of West Division Street.
Now members of the ATF national team have been called in to bolster the investigation, further raising the possibility that the fire was suspicious.
The additional investigators are expected to arrive on Friday.
For several hours Tuesday, flames swept through the two-block-long flea market, fueled by the many cars in its large parking lot and auto repair shop, as well as many flammable wares inside the unsprinklered building.
The flea market included a two-level parking garage, and officials said many cars were destroyed in the blaze, including several vehicles that were parked on the upper level and fell into the burning building as portions of the upper parking deck collapsed.
Fire Department officials have said the cause of the blaze might not be known for several days.