Naperville restaurant reopened after kitchen fire

A Naperville restaurant reopened Sunday after a kitchen fire the night before forced patrons and employees to evacuate the building and sent flames pouring from the building's roof.

No one was injured in the fire at the Texas Roadhouse on the 2800 block of Patriot's Lane, but because of the damage, the restaurant was closed until it was deemed safe by the DuPage County Health Department and the Naperville Transportation Engineering and Development Department, authorities said.

The restaurant reopened about 3:30 p.m. Sunday, after staff worked around the clock to clean up the kitchen and prepare for inspections, said managing partner Mike Cannistra. The county, city and Texas Roadhouse company were helpful beyond expectations, he said.

"Staff has done a great job of responding and getting the place back together," Cannistra said. "We moved mountains today."

Firefighters were called to the business at 10:05 p.m. Saturday, first by an automatic fire alarm and then a call from the restaurant reporting a fire on the roof, according to the Naperville Fire Department. The first firefighters to arrive reported flames showing from the roof of the one-story restaurant.

The fire was brought under control within 15 minutes, though fire crews remained on the scene later checking for hidden fire and assisting restaurant management.

Investigators determined that the fire started accidentally in the kitchen area of the restaurant, according to the fire department. No damage estimate was reported, though Cannistra said one exhaust hood needs to be replaced.

"We're very lucky it was contained in that one area and not throughout the restaurant," he said.