Ikea warehouse center in Joliet damaged in fire

A fire broke out the at Ikea Distribution Center near Laraway Road in Joliet Tuesday.

The Joliet Fire Department responded to the center located at 650 Emerald Drive in Joliet at 10:15 a.m. after heavy smoke was seen coming from the roof, according to the fire department.

Crews discovered that about a third of the warehouse’s roof was on fire, according to the fire department. The fire was also spreading into parts of the building.

The fire was officially declared under control around 12:15 p.m. though crews remained on the scene at 2:30 p.m. for “overhauls and ventilation” according to the Joliet Fire Department.

Eighty-one firefighters were dispatched to the scene along with five ladder trucks, eight fire engines, one squad car and five ambulances, according to the fire department.

All employees were evacuated from the building without injury, according to the fire department, but one firefighter needed to be taken to the hospital due to exhaustion.