Fire breaks out on roof of Rolling Meadows gas station

The roof of a Rolling Meadows gas station caught fire Sunday afternoon and spread into the business, but the fuel pumps were not affected.

The fire broke out at the Shell, 2200 W. Algonquin Road, about 2 p.m.

"You could smell it. It was smoky on the inside," store employee Debbie Sennett said. "The store started to fill up with smoke."

Rolling Meadows fire Battalion Chief Ben Dwyer said firefighters were called to the scene at 2:07 p.m.

By the time firefighters arrived at 2:11 p.m., everyone had left the building, Dwyer said, noting that the employees did a good job getting everyone out.

Dwyer said firefighters attacked the blaze with 150 to 200 gallons of water. He said firefighters were judicious with their use of water, given that the cooler in the store was still running and power was still being supplied to the building.

Dwyer said there were no injuries.

Dwyer said roof materials had to be removed by the Rolling Meadows fire department, with assistance from the Palatine and Arlington Heights fire departments.

They removed ceiling tile and poked some holes in the drywall to make sure there wasn't any fire behind the walls. They also cut a hole in the roof to make sure there wasn't any other fire traveling across the roof system.

The fire is under investigation by the Rolling Meadows fire and police departments.

Sennett said she was told "an outside ignition source" sparked the fire on the roof.