Crystal Lake fire started in car, authorities say

No one was injured in a fire that broke out at an auto body shop in Crystal Lake Friday night, authorities said.

A passer-by called about 7:20 p.m. and crews arrived to find heavy smoke coming out of the west end of Trident Auto Body, 80 Railroad St., according to the Crystal Lake Fire Department.

On Saturday, Battalion Chief Bill Whyte said the blaze started inside a car on a lift. Investigators don't know yet what caused the fire in the car, Whyte said.

Officials said crews initiated an “aggressive attack” to extinguish the blaze, but they soon pulled out of building to assess a potential roof collapse, officials said. The fire was upgraded to a second alarm, and officials called for mutual aid from departments in surrounding communities.

Authorities initially thought the roof was on fire, but the flames were actually coming out of a skylight, Whyte said. Firefighters re-entered the building upon verifying the roof was safe and had the fire under control by 8:30 p.m., he said. Crews from 14 departments helped put out the blaze

No one was inside the body shop when crews arrived.

“There were ruined contents,” Whyte said. “As far as I know, (the building) is still OK. There was smoke and damage to it, but I don't know the extent.”