Palatine deli damaged in fire -- likely caused by meat smoker

A Palatine delicatessen sustained heavy smoke damage during a fire Tuesday night.

About 11:45 p.m., Palatine firefighters responded to the blaze at Smakowski's Sausage and Deli in the Prairie Brook Shopping Center on the 1500 block of Rand Road.

The fire was quickly put out with a fire extinguisher and the scene was cleared by 1:25 a.m., authorities said.

A preliminary investigation showed that improper installation of a meat smoker may have started the fire.

Smoke penetrated into an adjacent restaurant and dry cleaners, and fire crews ventilated the businesses.

Damage was estimated at $85,000.