Employee Charged in $70M Chicago Furniture Warehouse Fire

An employee of a suburban Chicago furniture warehouse is facing federal arson charges for allegedly starting a fire that destroyed the building.

Ruben Ochoa Cruz is charged in the April 21 fire that destroyed The RoomPlace furniture warehouse in Woodridge. The 50 workers in the warehouse were able to escape without injury. No firefighters were injured by the blaze, which caused $70 million in damage.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives investigators said the 20-year-old Cruz had an argument with management over his attendance the day the fire broke out. After returning to his duties, Cruz then allegedly lit a piece of packing slip on fire and dropped it from a raised forklift.

It wasn’t immediately known if Cruz, who is due in court May 4, has a lawyer.