Oct 17, 2024
Fire ripped through a large cabinet supplier in New Lenox on Thursday, destroying a business that had been in the southwest suburban village for more than 50 years.Joseph Wilda III, one of the owners of Tri-Star Cabinets & Top Co., told reporters he was working inside his office at 10:30 a.m. when the fire alarm rang and he went out to investigate."I was within 15-20 feet of the fire. And then we realized there was no stopping it," Wilda said.Wilda and about 60 other employees safely evacuated from the sprawling business complex at 1000 S. Cedar Road, near Illinois Highway, New Lenox Fire District Chief Adam Riegel told reporters.No one was injured, he said.The fire was extinguished in about three hours, Riegel said. The roof had collapsed in the rear production area, and firefighters continued to douse hot spots with water."Wood is the biggest thing. There's a lot of combustible products in there," he said.The facility contains a custom cabinetry store and 85,000 square feet of production area, according to the company's website. Tri-Star Cabinets & Top was founded in 1966 and moved three years later from Joliet to its current location in New Lenox.New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann told reporters the Wilda family "have been such great members of our community. ... We're going to do everything as a village to help them rebuild."Air quality levels were measured and remained safe, according to New Lenox Fire District spokeswoman Marisa Tomich.It's unclear what caused the fire. Tomich said it was under investigation.Wilda said the company had "some maintenance going on. But nothing out of the ordinary."He said the family plans to rebuild the business."We're going to be back," he said.
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