Firefighters battled a blaze in the ventilation system at Louie’s Hot Dogs on Elmwood Avenue overnight Friday that sent furious flames shooting out the top of the outdoor smokestack.
But no one was injured and the owner of the 22-year-old Elmwood Village restaurant said Saturday that the fire damage was limited and that Louie’s would be re-open in a month or two.
The fire was reported at about midnight.
Owner Angelo Turco, who was not at the restaurant at the time of the fire, said his workers told him the restaurant was packed and there were about a dozen people in line waiting to get a late night bit to eat when the fire broke out
Something overheated in the hood system over the grill, Turco said.
“It melted the motor and sparks started to fly and the whole thing went up in flames,” said Turco, who arrived at the restaurant a few minutes after the fire started.
The restaurant at the corner of Elmwood and Hodge Street was evacuated as firefighters made their way through the heavy snow to fight the blaze.
Fire officials said two extra engines and a ladder truck were called in to help out.
The fire caused an estimated $200,000 in damage.
Turco said that most of the fire damage was limited to the smokestack and outside of the building.
Most of the damage on the inside came from the water firefighters had to use to flush out the smokestack, he said.
“There’s no structural damage,” he said, thankful for the firefighters quick work.
Turco was busy making arrangements to fix up the restaurant in time for the spring.
“We’re going to rise up out of the ashes,” he vowed.
But no one was injured and the owner of the 22-year-old Elmwood Village restaurant said Saturday that the fire damage was limited and that Louie’s would be re-open in a month or two.
The fire was reported at about midnight.
Owner Angelo Turco, who was not at the restaurant at the time of the fire, said his workers told him the restaurant was packed and there were about a dozen people in line waiting to get a late night bit to eat when the fire broke out
Something overheated in the hood system over the grill, Turco said.
“It melted the motor and sparks started to fly and the whole thing went up in flames,” said Turco, who arrived at the restaurant a few minutes after the fire started.
The restaurant at the corner of Elmwood and Hodge Street was evacuated as firefighters made their way through the heavy snow to fight the blaze.
Fire officials said two extra engines and a ladder truck were called in to help out.
The fire caused an estimated $200,000 in damage.
Turco said that most of the fire damage was limited to the smokestack and outside of the building.
Most of the damage on the inside came from the water firefighters had to use to flush out the smokestack, he said.
“There’s no structural damage,” he said, thankful for the firefighters quick work.
Turco was busy making arrangements to fix up the restaurant in time for the spring.
“We’re going to rise up out of the ashes,” he vowed.