Eatery up in flames

A POPULAR Townsville Chinese restaurant went up in flames after fires were sparked in the kitchen.

Five fire crews battled the blaze which broke out at Dynasty Chinese Seafood Restaurant in Flinders St shortly after 2.30pm yesterday.

Smoke could be seen billowing over the city centre, as workers and customers from the restaurant and nearby businesses were evacuated.

Townsville Fire Station officer Corrie Benson said 18 firefighters were called to the restaurant fire after “multiple triple-0 calls”.

“Upon our arrival we’ve seen flame and smoke coming out of the bottom of the restaurant. Currently we have a number of teams trying to extinguish that fire,” Mr Benson said.

“The fire started in the kitchen at this early stage; the firefighters are concentrating in that area and on the second floor.”

Mr Benson said there was asbestos in the area but officers were “using all preventive measures to make sure that’s not an issue”.

Approximately 10 businesses in the Flinders St complex were evacuated as a precaution, with large traffic delays and smoke hazards.

“Inside, the guys were saying the temperatures were around 300 degrees, that was on the thermal imaging camera, however obviously it’s hot enough there to create a fire,” Mr Benson said.

Restaurant manager Les Chun-tie said the fire started in the kitchen and all they could see was “black fog” with staff rushing to try to put the fire out.

“I’m not too sure if it’s electrical or if the oils caught fire, we’ll have to wait and see,” he said.

Mr Chun-tie said he wasn’t sure about the extent of the damage bill.

“We can’t see a thing, I couldn’t even see what was going on, just smouldering,” he said.

A petroleum and gas inspectorate officer told the Townsville Bulletin that a number of gas cylinders were located in the kitchen.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said there were no reported injuries.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said the fire in the kitchen had spread to the roof of the building.

“Fire was in the ceiling space,” the spokeswoman said.

An investigation will be held to determine the cause of the blaze.