Updated: Stable Restaurant Catches Fire, No Injuries Reported

A grease fire spread up the kitchen of restaurant shortly before 7:00 p.m., triggering the response of numerous fire departments and leaving a hole in the Argentinian restaurant's roof, Fire Chief Jim Van Goor said Wednesday night at the scene.

Van Goor said it appeared that a grease fire in the hood spread through the duct work, which became so hot that it set the wood surrounding it on fire, eventually creating a hole in the roof above the kitchen.

Dozens of onlookers had iPhones and cameras out to record images of heavy smoke billowing out of the corner building on S. Broad and East Ridgewood Avenue. Unlike the usual smokey charcoal smell emanating from the building, the scent of burnt wood and grease could be wafted for blocks.

The restaurant's patrons and employees were immediately evacuated from inside the building and waiters donning red hankerchiefs were not allowed re-entry because the scene was deemed too dangerous, according to witnesses and officials.

Police cordoned the area and ambulance personnel had stretchers set up in front of Dunkin Donuts should anyone be injured. Traffic was shut down from Franklin to Hudson and east to Chestnut Street until about 9:15 p.m. There were no injuries were reported.

The fire department was on scene within two minutes of the call and was able to prevent the general alarm fire from spreading, which drew applauds from Van Goor.

"The guys did a great job," Van Goor said of the effort, which also included response from several area departments including Glen Rock and Ho-Ho-Kus. "They got there fast, they got on the roof, they found the fire and they shut it down."

The restaurant suffered extensive smoke damage and will need approval from the health inspector and building inspector before it can re-open. Both departments will be on scene Thursday morning to assess the damage, the fire chief said. A contractor will be needed to fix the roof as well before the restaurant can once again serve steaks.

As firefighters climbed the ladder high above the roof on East Ridgewood Ave. on Wednesday, diners below on the S. Broad St. side could be seen finishing up their drinks and taking in an unfamiliar smell.

When The Stable can reopen is unclear as of Wednesday night.