Birmingham Fire Damages Coney Restaurant, No Injuries: Officials

BIRMINGHAM, MI — Firefighters battled a Thursday morning blaze at the Greek Islands Coney Restaurant in Downtown Birmingham on Hamilton Row and Ferndale Avenue, officials said.

Birmingham Assistant Fire Chief Matt Bartalino told Patch the fire started in the kitchen area of the restaurant. He said there was only one worker in the restaurant, and he tried to put out the fire himself before alerting officials.

Fire Marshal Jack Pesha, who was around the corner doing a test, raced to the restaurant and saw flames coming from the roof. He immediately ordered the employee out of the restaurant, Bartalino said.

Firefighters then made their way into the restaurant and its roof to put the fire out. The blaze damaged the restaurant's kitchen area and its roof directly above, Bartalino said. There was some smoke damage done to a next-door business, but officials eliminated the smoke with fans.

"Our crews did a great job quickly putting out the fire that started in the commercial hood in the kitchen of the coney island," Bartalino said.

Bartalino believes the fire was started accidentally and there were no injuries in the blaze.