Gemato's Grill & Wood Pit BBQ, Naperville, IL USA $10,000 Grease Exhaust Fire

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/887667,na09_fireweb_s1.article

Restaurant fire causes $10,000 in damages

April 9, 2008

By BILL BIRD wbird@scn1.com

Heat from a Naperville restaurant's wood-smoking pit apparently ignited a fire early Wednesday evening that did just less than $10,000 damage to the business.

An estimated 20 customers and employees escaped uninjured from Gemato's Grill & Wood Pit BBQ, 1566 W. Ogden Ave., when the blaze erupted about 6:20 p.m., Assistant Naperville Fire Department Chief Rich Mikel said at the scene.

Twenty-five firefighters, six pieces of apparatus and two ambulance crews were sent to battle the blaze.

Mikel said heat from the restaurant's wood pit apparently started a fire in the ventilation system. Damage appeared to be confined to a rooftop ventilation unit, he said.

Grayish-white smoke could be seen just above the roof at 6:30 p.m.

Mikel added restaurant employees erected and climbed their own ladder and emptied fire extinguishers into the vent just before firefighters arrived at the scene.

The interior sustained no damage, although the restaurant was closed while being inspected by city building and health code officers, Mikel said.