The RoomPlace Employees to Keep Jobs After Massive Warehouse Fire

Photo by Kathleen Gibson in Lemont.

Woodridge, IL - Employees of The RoomPlace's main distribution center in Woodridge will keep their jobs and continue to receive pay as the company works to restore its loss.

Officials are working to find the cause of Thursday's fire, which caused an estimated $40 million to $60 million in damage at the 700,000-square-foot warehouse at 2501 Internationale Parkway, said Lemont Fire Protection Chief George Rimbo.

Rimbo said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms will use all of its resources in the investigation, with help from the Lemont Fire Protection District and Woodridge police. He said "it will be some time" before the source of the fire is found because of the size of the blaze.

The fire alarm went off around 5 p.m. April 21, and 911 calls reported smoke in the building. About 50 people were safely evacuated. Rimbo said flames were present when crews arrived, and the fire escalated quickly until it reached a fourth alarm.

Rimbo said there was an operational sprinkler system in place in the warehouse at the time of the fire, though the help it provided is relative, considering the damage.

No injuries to The RoomPlace employees or firefighters were reported.

Officials are now concerned with the stability of the remaining pieces and debris of the warehouse, though fire crews are no longer present at the scene. The rubble remains hot, though the flames have all been extinguished.

A statement from The Roomplace says the family-owned company is communicating with customers about delivery delays caused by the fire, and they are focusing on customers and employees.

"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," according to the statement.

The Village of Woodridge sent an email to residents late Thursday night regarding a boil order for Illinois American Water Company customers south of Interstate 55 in Woodridge. The boil order does not affect the Woodridge Water System or its customers north of Interstate 55.

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