Lightning early Friday morning struck an annex of NIU’s Social Science Research Institute, causing a fire that burned out a main fuse box and wiring.

No one was hurt, and the 5:45 a.m. fire was put out quickly by DeKalb firefighters with hand-held extinguishers. Fire damage was contained to an electrical fuse box and to a nearby box of furnace filters and some stored paper.

Smoke from the small blaze was quickly dissipated and no one suffered from smoke inhalation, DeKalb Assistant Fire Chief Estevan Quesada said.

Paul Kleppner, SSRI director, said about 35 people who work in the annex offices assigned to NIU’s Public Opinion Laboratory and the Center for Governmental Studies were forced to leave work until power was restored.

Damage to equipment is unknown at this point. One personal computer that had been plugged into an affected circuit was taken to another building, tested and suffered no damage.

Power has been restored to the building and employees are back at work.