No one was hurt Wednesday night when a third floor Wirtz Hall fluorescent ceiling light burst into flames and caused about $1,000 in damage to the building.

The light’s faulty ballast, the built-in transformer that changes the building’s electrical voltage into power the light can use, sparked the fire, said DeKalb Fire Department Lt. William Kalal.

The light’s plastic cover melted on the tile floor while soot and smoke filled the building, Kalal said.

People in the building were able to douse the blaze with a fire extinguisher, Kalal said. The fire already was out when firefighters arrived. The firefighters used high-powered fans to clear the smoke, Kalal said.

However, after the smoke cleared, Kalal said, officials discovered that the floor’s fire alarm did not work.

“The problem was a broken pull station,” said NIU Safety Officer Rob Vest. “When they pulled the fire alarm a mechanical breakage occured.”

Physical Plant electricians fixed the alarm.