A large pot of food product left unattended on a stove top filled a local restaurant with smoke this morning.
Columbus firefighters were sent to a possible structure fire at 7:44 a.m. Tuesday in the 3800 block of 25th Street after a passerby reported smoke coming from the roof of the building, said Capt. Mike Wilson, Columbus Fire Department spokesman.
Firefighters arrived at 3820 E. 25th St, which is the E Sushi Japanese Restaurant, and reported light smoke visible from the roof.
The restaurant was closed and all doors were locked, Wilson said.
Forcing open a door, crews discovered a large amount of smoke inside the business. Crews initiated a search for occupants and determined the building was empty, Wilson said.
While searching through the kitchen area, firefighters found a large pot of food product burning on a gas stovetop. Firefighters turned off the gas supply to the stove and carried the cooking pot to the parking lot area.
Due to the amount of smoke in the building, firefighters used a large ventilation fan to aid in removing the smoke from the restaurant, Wilson said.
The incident was reported to the Bartholomew County Department of Health, which is protocol for a restaurant fire.
During fire department operations, a representative of E Sushi arrived on the scene.
Investigators determined that the cooking fire, which was contained to the pot, was accidental, Wilson said. No injuries were reported.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
