UNION TOWNSHIP | Firefighters worked quickly to keep an industrial wood chipper's diesel fuel tank from igniting when the chipper caught fire Wednesday morning at a business behind the Walgreens warehouse on U.S. 30.

Firefighters also kept the fire at Joe's Landscaping from spreading to a large mulch pile and a nearby cornfield.

The fire occurred about 10:30 a.m. at the business, which is located behind the Walgreens warehouse at 730 W. U.S. 30.

A truck driver at Walgreens spotted a small fire in the chipper and called the owner, who called the Fire Department, Union Township Assistant Fire Chief Tim Beach said. Union Township firefighters, assisted by units from Boone Grove, arrived to find the chipper engulfed in flames.

Firefighters spent about 40 minutes and used about 5,000 gallons of water to put out the fire. The cause of the fire isn't known, but it's possible a bearing on the unit malfunctioned, Beach said. Firefighters received reports of explosions, though that was just the sound of the tires on the unit popping, Beach said.

Firefighters returned to the scene about 2:40 p.m. after receiving a report that the chipper fire had ignited again.

Porter hospital Emergency Medical Services and Porter County police also responded to the scene.

The chipper sustained $400,000 in damage. A new chipper will cost about $600,000, Beach said.