Fire closes local restaurant

Peking Duck House at 500 Boston Post Road has had steady business since it opened last summer, but things changed on Saturday, Nov. 6, when a grease fire broke out in the kitchen at 5:01 p.m.

The staff fled as flames consumed the cooking appliance: damaging the stainless steel exhaust hood, the metal on the walls and the adjacent utilities.

Luckily, the sprinkler system worked and took care of the fire within a few minutes before firefighters arrived.

Fire Marshal Tim Smith said the restaurant has significant fire damage to the kitchen and smoke and water damage in the dining room.

About six inches of water accumulated on the floor and poured into the space occupied by a ground floor tenant (Dennis Uniform**).

Smith said that the restaurant owner would have to replace the damaged appliance and the cook line would have to be removed while repairs are done.

Removing the steel hood is labor intensive and expensive.

The adjacent businesses, a beauty salon and Reno's Restaurant were protected from the fire by tenant separation walls.

Reno's did suffer some water and smoke damage when someone opened a common door between the two restaurants and smoke rushed in from Peking Duck House, according to Smith. Otherwise the separation walls worked well.

The management at Peking Duck House said the restaurant would be closed until December as they renovate the kitchen and dining room.

The Health, Building and Fire Marshal's offices will have to inspect the restaurant before it re-opens.

** Dennis Uniform could not be reached for comment.