2/10/2011
An early afternoon fire in the ductwork of Kamil's restaurant on Main Avenue near the Paterson line revealed numerous building violations, including an illegal basement occupancy, authorities said.
Fire Chief Henry Cholewczynski said fire coming from the ductwork on the roof was reported by several witnesses driving by.
"None of the people inside knew anything was going on. Everything was on the roof," Cholewczynski said. There were no injuries.
The first emergency call to the Clifton Fire Department came about 1 p.m. Friday when two city fire inspectors on assignment on Crooks Avenue reported seeing smoke coming from the roof of the Lebanese restaurant.
Fire companies responding to the two-alarm fire opened the ductwork on the side of the restaurant and immediately put out the flames.
"Besides the fire, we were fighting the ice, the cold, the traffic and the conditions, but everybody did good," Cholewczynski said.
Wilfredo Lopez, 19, a technician at an oil-change garage directly across from Kamil's said neither he nor fellow employees noticed anything until police cars and firetrucks arrived.
The fire was apparently caused by grease and other particles of cooking in the restaurant's exhaust hood system. Four or five restaurant employees, four diners and residents of the second-floor apartment exited the building as firefighters battled the fire.
Upon inspection, the restaurant was cited for violations of its fire-alarm and electrical systems.
Deputy Fire Chief George Spies said city Building Department inspectors found an illegal occupancy in the building's basement. The building is closed to residents or businesses until repairs are made to the electrical, duct and plumbing systems and the building is brought up to code, Spies said.
An early afternoon fire in the ductwork of Kamil's restaurant on Main Avenue near the Paterson line revealed numerous building violations, including an illegal basement occupancy, authorities said.
Fire Chief Henry Cholewczynski said fire coming from the ductwork on the roof was reported by several witnesses driving by.
"None of the people inside knew anything was going on. Everything was on the roof," Cholewczynski said. There were no injuries.
The first emergency call to the Clifton Fire Department came about 1 p.m. Friday when two city fire inspectors on assignment on Crooks Avenue reported seeing smoke coming from the roof of the Lebanese restaurant.
Fire companies responding to the two-alarm fire opened the ductwork on the side of the restaurant and immediately put out the flames.
"Besides the fire, we were fighting the ice, the cold, the traffic and the conditions, but everybody did good," Cholewczynski said.
Wilfredo Lopez, 19, a technician at an oil-change garage directly across from Kamil's said neither he nor fellow employees noticed anything until police cars and firetrucks arrived.
The fire was apparently caused by grease and other particles of cooking in the restaurant's exhaust hood system. Four or five restaurant employees, four diners and residents of the second-floor apartment exited the building as firefighters battled the fire.
Upon inspection, the restaurant was cited for violations of its fire-alarm and electrical systems.
Deputy Fire Chief George Spies said city Building Department inspectors found an illegal occupancy in the building's basement. The building is closed to residents or businesses until repairs are made to the electrical, duct and plumbing systems and the building is brought up to code, Spies said.
