Fire closes downtown Arlington Heights restaurant

An overnight fire at Salsa 17 has the downtown Arlington Heights restaurant closed until the end of the week, but owners said the damage could have been much worse.

Fire broke out in the kitchen of the restaurant, 17 West Campbell St., sometime after it closed at 9 p.m. Monday night, said owner Amy Huber.

A young woman who was returning to her home nearby when she heard and alarm and saw smoke coming out of the roof. She called 911 right away, Huber said.

The Arlington Heights Fire Department responded at 12:45 a.m. and within five minutes there were 10 fire companies on the scene, including from Prospect Heights and Rolling Meadows, according to a news release.

No one was in the restaurant at the time of the fire, and no one was injured. Officials said the fire was extinguished within 45 minutes of arrival.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

"Physical evidence points to a source near the kitchen stove and corresponding ventilation system. At this time, investigators suspect the fire may be accidental in nature," the release said.

There's no damage estimate available, but Huber said she's just glad the fire was detected by the woman walking by so early.

"Had she not seen it, the damages would have been worse. So, that's the blessing," Huber said. "What a good Samaritan, really."

There was no damage to the front of the restaurant, including the murals that took several months to paint, Huber said.

Owners are cleaning up smoke and water damage to the kitchen and hope to reopen Friday.