Fire damages Applebee's in Springettsbury Township, restaurant cannot reopen immediately

A grease fire damaged the Applebee's Grill + Bar in Springettsbury Township late Wednesday night.

Firefighters responded to the restaurant in the 100 block of Northern Way around 11:46 p.m., said Matt Russ, battalion chief for York Area United Fire & Rescue. Three employees who were getting ready to leave for the night noticed a fire in the hood system of the kitchen area and called for help.

"We had fire showing from the roof when we pulled up," Russ said.

Firefighters extinguished the fire quickly and kept it contained to the ventilation system, Russ said. However, they had to open the roof to make sure the blaze had not spread.

Luckily, the employees noticed the fire before they left, Russ said. Otherwise, it could have gone unnoticed and spread.

Electric and gas have been shut off to the building, he said.

Russ said he expects the restaurant will be closed for a period of time as it has to clean up from damage, which includes water and smoke.

No estimate on the damage was immediately available.

No one was injured.

Hellam Fire Company assisted at the scene, Russ said.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Fire damages Applebee's in Springettsbury Township, restaurant cannot reopen immediately