Firefighter Hurt Battling Massive Fire At Manufacturing Facility In Joliet

JOLIET — Firefighters from as far away as Newark and Lisbon were in Troy Township to battle a pre-dawn explosion and massive fire along the southeast frontage road of Interstate 55 near Joliet and Shorewood.

One member of the Joliet Fire Department suffered burns to his forehead and hands while battling the fire, according to Joliet spokeswoman Rosemaria DiBenedetto. She said the injured firefighter is Capt. Stephen Rutten, and he is captain at Station 7 on Houbolt Road in Joliet.

The massive fire happened at the Rovanco Piping Systems company, and Shorewood residents told Joliet Patch that they heard explosions, and some homes shook around the time that the fire happened at 4:40 a.m.

Although the blaze also left the Joliet Fire Department captain injured, Joliet's spokeswoman said it is her understanding that he "is in very good shape." She said he was moved from St. Joe's Hospital in Joliet to Loyola in Maywood because St. Joe's does not treat burn victims, and she believes the firefighter is in good condition.

Joliet responded as a mutual aid to Troy Township, since the fire happened in Troy's fire protection district. By 10 a.m., all city of Joliet firefighters were finished extinguishing the fire, a battalion chief told Patch.

According to its website, Rovanco Piping Systems, Inc., is a privately held manufacturing company in Joliet that maintains three manufacturing facilities totaling nearly 150,000 square feet and encompassing 20 acres.

Rovanco noted that it was founded by then owners Larry and Dick Stonitsch in 1969. In 2016, Larry Stonitsch's son Chad and Dick Stonitsch's son Todd took over Rovanco’s operations.

"The business was conceived for the express purpose of providing a high quality pre-insulated piping system as an alternative to outdated field insulated piping which is costly, less effective and less efficient."

According to the Rovanco website, "The company's reputation for high quality products, prompt delivery, commitment to innovation and unequaled customer service is well deserved and has positioned Rovanco as a worldwide leader in the industry."