Sprinkler keeps Mt. Prospect restaurant fire damage at minimum

Mount Prospect Fire Department officials said Friday that an automatic fire sprinkler system at a restaurant prevented a fire there Thursday night from causing significant damage.

Fire crews were dispatched to The Kampai Japanese Steakhouse, 2330 S. Elmhurst Road, at 10:45 p.m. Authorities said there was no visible fire or smoke from outside building, but there was light smoke in the kitchen, where firefighters located the source of the fire in the ceiling.

They extinguished the fire by 11 p.m.

“Without an automatic sprinkler and fire alarm system, the loss to the business could have been significant,” according to a fire department news release.

The cause of the fire appears to be due to a malfunctioning lighting unit, officials said.

The restaurant was not occupied at time of the fire, and it was able to reopen Friday. Damages were estimated at $5,000.

No injuries were reported.