Gardner businesses damaged by fire

A multi-alarm fire damaged a Gardner automotive business Sunday, March 15, drawing several fire departments to the scene and sending thick smoke over the community.
The blaze was reported at a commercial building housing J & R Service Center and MRV Motorsports, located along Liberty Street. The building houses an automotive repair and towing operation that has served the area for decades.
Emergency crews responded after reports of a fire at the business, and mutual aid agencies were called to assist the Gardner Fire Protection District in battling the flames. Additional firefighters and equipment from neighboring departments responded to the scene.
Video from the scene showed heavy smoke and flames consuming the structure as firefighters worked to bring the situation under control. The fire took approximately five hours to extinguish.
There were no reports of injuries, and authorities have not yet released an official estimate of the damage. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Residents gathered nearby as firefighters worked for hours to extinguish the blaze and secure the scene.
The Gardner Fire Department was assisted by Braceville, Campus, Coal City, Dwight, Morris, Seneca, and other agencies, as well as the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office and Grundy County Emergency Management Agency,