At least six people evacuated Durty Nellie’s in downtown Palatine Friday morning (Jan. 25) after what was described as a “gas-fed” fire broke out in the kitchen.

According to Deputy Palatine Fire Chief Patrick Gratzianna, the fire department received an activated fire alarm at approximately 10:17 a.m. He along with the first crews were on scene six minutes later.

“While I was en route, police arrived first and notified us they had visual flames and smoke, so we bumped up the call to a Code 4, which brought more personnel,” he said.

Gratzianna said when he entered the restaurant and music venue at 180 N. Smith St., he entered the kitchen first, where he encountered restaurant staff. The department quickly evacuated the workers to the nearby Palatine train station to stay warm as temperatures hovered around zero degrees.

Crews extended a hose line into the kitchen’s hood, grill and duct area, but Gratzianna said the challenge was gas feeding the fire, so even though firefighters were dumping water on the flames, it was not extinguishing.

Nicor crews arrived a short time later and shut off gas to the building. The fire quickly went out at that time, Gratzianna said.

“We then spent the next 20-30 minutes checking for other hot spots to make sure there was no fire hidden elsewhere,” he said.

Gratzianna said damage was not significant because it was contained to the kitchen. He said there is some smoke and water damage in other parts of the building, which is why the business will remain closed for the time being. He said the village’s health department will need to investigate and determine exactly how long it will be closed.

Meanwhile, power has been restored to the bank next to Durty Nellie’s. Also, the nearby parking garage and the restaurant itself are structurally safe, Gratzianna said.

According to Gratzianna, approximately eight different fire apparatus from three different departments (Palatine, Palatine Rural and Rolling Meadows), consisting of 29 firefighters and seven additional command staff, responded to the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.