It took firefighters four hours to get a three-alarm fire at a cabinet factory under control.
New Lenox Fire Protection District Chief Adam Riegel told Fox 32 the structure and contents provided challenges.
"The area the fire was in was what we call pole barn – basically wood and metal," he said adding that when the structure collapsed the heavy metal landed on top of the fire.
All 70 employees evacuated after hearing the fire alarms sounding. Heavy fire and smoke was visible for miles.
Some residents and businesses including a daycare center were evacuated due to the smoke that was monitored by environmental health officials.
Firefighters remained at the scene after controlling the fire to check for hotspots.
The cause is under investigation by the fire marshal's office.
