Overview
- The blaze, which began early Sunday around 6 a.m., ripped through the grandstand roof and forced crews into defensive operations.
- Fire departments from several south suburban towns and Northwest Indiana joined the response.
- Crete police shut Route 1 between Crete-Monee Road and Elms Court Lane and warned residents about smoke and haze over the village.
- Officials reported no injuries to firefighters, with spot fires flaring into the evening.
- The Illinois State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause, with the long-closed racetrack largely vacant since a brief reuse after racing ended in 2015.