Elk Grove auto repair shop damaged by fire

An Elk Grove Village auto repair shop was damaged extensively and one employee was injured when the building caught fire just before noon on Monday.

Firefighters responded to the blaze at Quality Auto Works, 105 Gaylord St., and found heavy, black smoke and fire coming from the roof of the 50-foot by 150-foot building.

Firefighters were able to put out the fire quickly, said Elk Grove Village Batallion Chief William Sellers.

Fire officials on Monday night were still investigating the cause of the blaze, which initially was called in as an explosion and fire. Extensive damage to the roof left the building uninhabitable.

An employee who broke a window to exit the building suffered a minor injury while climbing out the window.

Twelve high-end vehicles — including an Audi, a Porsche and a Mercedes-Benz — were inside at the time of the fire, but it was unclear how many were damaged.

Sellers believes the fire caused at least $250,000 in damage — and maybe twice amount that depending on how many vehicles were destroyed.

Area departments that assisted include Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, Itasca and Mount Prospect.