Damage From RoomPlace Warehouse Fire Estimated At $40 Million To $60 Million
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Firefighters on Friday were still on the scene of an extra alarm fire that destroyed a furniture warehouse in the western suburbs Thursday night and caused an estimated $40 million to $60 million in damage.
The fire alarm was still ringing from the roof of the RoomPlace warehouse, 2501 Internationale Parkway in Woodridge. Firefighters were tackling hot spots left over from the huge blaze.
"The fire did grow very rapidly, maybe because of the type of material that is in there," George Rimbo, chief of the Lemont Fire Protection District, said Friday. "These fires with this type of material burns much faster, much hotter these days."
The cause of the fire remained unclear. Federal authorities were expected to arrive over the weekend to join the investigation.
Podcast
A total of 35 fire departments helped battle the blaze, which broke out Thursday late afternoon.
The 700,000-square-foot building was gutted, along with many semi trailers. The approximately 50 employees who were working yesterday have not been able to get to their cars in the parking lot.
Nobody was injured.
"It is the most devastating thing to see your employees hugging you and crying, knowing that tomorrow is uknown," RoomPlace CEO Paul Adams said.
One vendor estimated that losses in furniture alone would be in the millions of dollars. Wayne Zeibarth, who supplies delivery trucks for the company, said he also estimated 600 to 700 customers waiting on deliveries are affected.
The warehouse supplies furniture to stores in the Chicago area, as well as locations in Indiana and Wisconsin.
Authorities told CBS 2's Sandra Torres that total damages are estimated to be $40 million to $60 million.
"At The RoomPlace, we are 100% committed to our employees and customers," the company said in a statement Friday.
"We want to reiterate that none of our employees have lost their jobs as a result of this traumatic event and we will continue to pay our employees as we work to get everyone back to work. We are actively working to restore what was lost and communicating with all customers regarding any delays in deliveries that are a result of this incident."
There is also a water boil order in effect for nearby residents.
