Help close by when Rolling Meadows fire station roof catches fire

Rolling Meadows firefighters didn't have far to go Friday afternoon when they responded to a blaze on the roof of their own fire house.

A contractor working on the flat roof of Station 16, 2455 Plum Grove Road, was doing work with an open flame about 12:50 p.m. that ignited rubberized roofing material and caused dark black smoke to billow upward, according to Fire Chief Terry Valentino.

He said the contractor reported the fire to firefighters, who pulled the alarm and evacuated the building. They pulled an engine outside and extended a hose line, extinguishing the fire within a few minutes. No one was hurt.

"We followed regular standard operating procedure," Valentino said.

There is minor smoke and water damage in the living quarters, but it's being cleaned and fixed, and firefighters are able to stay in the building, Valentino said.

One office was temporarily relocated to another part of the fire station.

Valentino said it's not the first time he's responded to a fire at a fire station. Usually, it involved food being left on the stove.

To maintain impartiality, the Illinois State Fire Marshal is conducting the investigation.