Restaurant porch damaged in Round Lake Heights fire

A back porch smoking area of a Round Lake Heights restaurant was damaged by fire early Tuesday morning.

Capt. Pat Walker of the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District said the fire was reported just after 6 a.m. at Richard's Bar-B-Q and Ribs restaurant, 900 Rollins Road. Walker said he is unsure who contacted 911, but believes a motorist called for help.

Crews arrived on the scene to find flames on the porch area of the building. Firefighters extinguished it in about an hour. The fire was contained outside, and the interior of the building was not damaged.

Walker said no one was injured in the blaze, and the restaurant was closed when the fire started.

The official cause of the fire is under investigation, he said.

Rollins Road was closed between Lotus Drive and Fairfield Road to give fire crews room to operate. The street was reopened at about 7:30 a.m., he said.

In addition to the Greater Round Lake Fire Department, firefighters from Fox Lake, Grayslake, Lake Villa, Antioch and Wauconda were called in to assist.