Schaumburg autoshop ignites, causing up to $1 million in damage

A Schaumburg autoshop employee accidentally sparked a fuel spill inside the business's garage at about 5:30 p.m. Monday, igniting a massive blaze which caused more than $750,000 in damage, according to fire officials.

The employee attempted to put out the flames but ran to a nearby convenience store to call 911 as the fire began to quickly spread, said Schaumburg Fire Capt. Martin Sand.

A passer-by alerted firefighters to the blaze at 806 Morse Ave. before the employee was able to make the call, and the first companies on the scene found the building engulfed in flames.

“When we got there, the rear of the building was heavily involved, and within two or three minutes, the parapet wall collapsed,” Sand said. “Five minutes later, the roof collapsed.”

The 30 by 80 foot single-story building was divided into two separate businesses, the autoshop and a machine shop, and by the time firefighters brought the blaze under control the autoshop was destroyed along with at least one vehicle inside.

“Companies were held back,” Sand said. “When the roof came in, crews were operating on the exterior so it's a good thing we didn't send anyone in.”

Fire officials said the employee who spilled the fuel while draining a vehicle was the only worker inside when the fire broke out.

“With the volume of fire that was coming out of there, they wouldn't have made it if they had been (inside),” Sand said.

Fire officials said the man was working on a seized motor and had reconnected a cable on the battery to restart the vehicle. He was draining fuel from the vehicle, when it ignited and quickly spread to more fuel canisters nearby, Sand said.

Initial reports estimate the damage to the building at between $750,000 and $1 million, according to fire officials.

The machine shop, which shared the building was not damaged by fire, but received smoke and water damage, Sand said.

Although fire officials had not been able to interview the man as of late Sunday night, investigators are considering the blaze accidental.

Thick black smoke billowed from the building during the fire, which could be seen from the nearby Elgin-O'Hare Expressway, causing traffic jams during rush hour.