A fire call during a thunderstorm probably helped to save the De Queen, Ark., fire station Saturday afternoon.

The De Queen Fire Department received a call at 2:30 p.m. Saturday about a burning telephone pole or an electrical fire on Ballard Street.

A firefighter arrived at the station and when he opened the doors, smoke came out of the building, said De Queen Fire Marshal Dennis Pruitt.

“One of the firemen (Bryan Hodges) called me and said the place was full of smoke. I thought he was joshing me. He said, ‘we’ve got a fire at the fire station,’” said Pruit...