Drivers Facility Closed For At Least A Month After Fire

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — The Illinois Secretary of State facility on 209th Street in Chicago Heights is expected to be closed for at least a month after a fire damaged a significant portion of the building late Sunday night as a result of civil unrest in the city following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Other south suburban Secretary of State buildings have reopened in Midlothian, Bridgeview and Lockport after a more than two-month shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. The express facility in Orland Park has closed permanently.

"We are going to look at it month by month," said Dave Druker, a spokesman from the Secretary of State office, of the forced closure of the Chicago Heights facility.

Fire officials in Chicago Heights would not confirm the damage from the fire is being investigated as an arson, instead referring to City Hall for details on how it started. A city of Chicago Heights spokeswoman said the fire falls in the jurisdiction of the Illinois Secretary of State police. Police in Chicago Heights had earlier confirmed they are investigating.

Druker said the building sustained significant smoke damage and some structural damage toward the back of the building.

But the fire did not create a total loss, as plans remain for the structure to be repaired and reopened whenever possible.

"We are committed to these communities in the south suburbs and are doing our best to maintain services," Druker said.