Durty Nellie's in Palatine temporarily shuttered by fire

Smoke rises from a fire at Durty Nellie's bar in Palatine Friday morning. courtesy of John Watson

A fire started Friday in the kitchen at Durty Nellie's in Palatine. courtesy of Tom Morrison

A fire at Durty Nellie's in Palatine Friday has temporarily shuttered the bar and music venue, a mainstay on the suburban night life scene for decades.

The fire started midmorning Friday in the kitchen and was contained there, according to Palatine Fire Department officials. No one was injured in the blaze, and there were no estimates available on the cost of the damage.

Palatine firefighters received an alarm about 10:17 a.m. and arrived on the scene about six minutes later, Deputy Chief Patrick Gratzianna said.

En route, firefighters learned that smoke and flames were visible. That prompted a call for additional help from the Palatine Rural Fire Department and the Rolling Meadows Fire Department, Gratzianna said.

"The fire was in the kitchen, in the hood, grill and duct area," Gratzianna said. "The challenge was that this was a gas-fed fire. Even though we were dumping water, this fire still wasn't going out."

Working with Nicor, firefighters shut off gas to the building.

"Once the gas was shut off, the fire very quickly went out," Gratzianna said. The fire was declared under control at 11:14 a.m.

Firefighters evacuated six members of the restaurant's kitchen staff to the nearby train station. No one else was in the building, Gratzianna said.

The origin of the fire is still under investigation, Gratzianna said, adding that the damage appeared to be minimal and consisted mostly of smoke and water damage. Officials say the structure remains sound.

An announcement on the Durty Nellie's website said Friday night's Party Punch show, as well as fundraisers for ICompete and Thomas Jefferson Middle School, were canceled. The show will be rescheduled, according to the website.

There are no estimates yet on how long Nellie's will be closed.

"We will keep you updated on when we will be reopening after Palatine fire officials conduct their inspections," the announcement said.

Durty Nellie's originally opened in 1972 and moved to its current location at 180 N. Smith St. in 2003. Over the years, it has hosted both local and nationally recognized bands.