Fire in Soong’s kitchen

Although the blaze was contained before it spread to the dining and lounge area of the restaurant, police reports stated the rooms suffered water and smoke damage.

The fire broke out in the restaurant, owned by Maurice Soong, at about 5.30 pm on Wednesday. Fire officials said a spark apparently ignited the cooking gas in the kitchen. The restaurant’s kitchen supervisor — Lynne Emrith — told police that the stove’s extractor above the fryer sucked the flames into the ceiling. Emrith said all 19 staff members and four persons eating in the restaurant were immediately evacuated.

Firemen from the nearby Mon Repos Fire Station arrived before the fire could spread beyond the kitchen. The restaurant closed its doors to the public, but yesterday management undertook clean-up operations to stage an International Cricket Council dinner for the launch of next year’s cricket World Cup in the Caribbean. Mon Repos police are continuing investigations.