Tri-Star Cabinets Fire: Blaze Burned For Hours, Destroyed Warehouse

NEW LENOX, IL — Crews remained on scene at Tri-Star Cabinet in New Lenox late into Thursday night, hours after a massive blaze engulfed the building that morning. The fire took hours to bring under control, with some spots still smoldering late Thursday.

New Lenox Fire crews were called at 10:30 a.m. Thursday to the 1000 block of Cedar Road. All employees in the building were evacuated, and no injuries were reported, New Lenox Fire District spokesperson Marisa Tomich said.

Video and photos from the scene showed flames engulfing Tri-Star Cabinet And Top Co. at Cedar Road and Illinois Highway. A thick, heavy cloud of black smoke could be seen above the building, and visible for some distance, witnesses reported.

New Lenox residents to the north of the business were asked to evacuate, New Lenox Police Chief Louis Alessandrini said. The evacuation was recommended, but not mandatory, as heavy smoke continued to billow that direction, Alessandrini said. Police also asked drivers and residents to avoid the area, as road closures and delays are expected.

The fire was later upgraded to a three-alarm, Tomich said. At its peak, 200 firefighters from 22 departments fought the blaze.

An investigation into the cause is ongoing.