Did Graffiti Have Connection To Noe Patino's Building Fire?

JOLIET, IL — Less than 48 hours after a major fire broke out at his newly purchased building in downtown Joliet on North Chicago Street, commercial property owner Noe Patino told Joliet Patch he is still in shock at what happened.

Patch found Patino on Tuesday morning as he was trying to board up the first floor windows.

He said Sunday afternoon's fire left significant smoke and water damage from the thousands of gallons of water used by the Joliet Fire Department.

"We're just going to clean it up and block all the doors' access," he said.

Most of the fire was concentrated on the third and second floors, and Joliet firefighters cut a large hole in the roof to ventilate the property.

During Tuesday's interview, Patino said he is still waiting to hear from the Joliet Fire Department investigators as far as whether they have pinpointed the cause.

Joliet's new fire chief Jeff Carey said the fire investigation is still ongoing. The fire caused an estimated $100,000 damage, Carey noted.

Patino said his building had been vacant and "nobody was there" at the time of the blaze.

Patino said there may have been a short in an electrical cable on the second level. Additionally, Patino showed Joliet Patch some new graffiti, perhaps gang graffiti, in the alleyway off North Chicago Street.

Patino told Patch the graffiti appeared to be recent, and he wondered whether the graffiti could have a connection to Sunday's fire.

"I'm a little concerned about that," Patino said.

In downtown Joliet, Patino also owns 103 North Ottawa Street, the old Montgomery Ward store, which Patino remodeled and renamed Plaza 66. In August, he opened the El Camaleon Bar and Grill inside Plaza 66.

During Tuesday's interview, Patino said he purchased the property at 69 North Chicago Street on May 26.

Patino said he already had one tenant lined up to occupy the first floor prior to Sunday's fire.

"I had a tenant, a massage therapy, for the lower level," Patino said.

Patino said he planned to convert the upper levels into apartments.

"My plan is to do two apartments, one in each floor," he said.

But Sunday's fire has put those plans on hold.

In addition to the damage throughout his entire building, Patino has a large hole in his roof to repair.

Patino said he could not let Joliet Patch inside the structure because of the damage.

"I'm not supposed to let anybody get in there," he said.

The Joliet Fire Department summoned crews from three different stations to extinguish Sunday's blaze. Crews were battling the fire for about 90 minutes.

"I think they did pretty awesome work," Patino said Tuesday.

Patino told Patch he remains committed to redeveloping the property in spite of Sunday's fire.

"I always finish my plans," Patino said. "I already contacted the city of Joliet to find out what we need to do and also the architect to see what we need to do to get this property repaired."