A fire at Ling’s Chop Suey House in Hilo caused about $120,000 in damage Tuesday morning, but about $320,000 in property was saved, according to the Hawaii Fire Department.
The alarm came at 8:45 a.m. and firefighters were on scene within six minutes. They reported “extensive smoke” coming from the exhaust stack above the kitchen.
The blaze was in a gas range, and firefighters got it under control by 8:55 a.m. and had it out by 9 a.m. They used a dry chemical fire extinguisher, aided by sprinklers in the kitchen area. Additionally they found “high temperatures” within the exhaust duct, which was cooled with foam and water.
Firefighters were back in quarters by 10:14 a.m. A total of 22 personnel responded.
The cause was listed as grease buildup on and within the gas range.