WILLMAR — A kitchen fire on Thursday morning damaged one of Willmar’s most popular restaurants, the Panda Garden Buffet.
No one was injured, but the fire caused damage to the restaurant’s kitchen as well as heavy smoke damage throughout the building, according to Willmar Fire Chief Frank Hanson. The chief reported that there was minor smoke damage to neighboring businesses in the Plaza One Mall on South First Street.
According to information from the Fire Department, Willmar firefighters responded at 10:28 a.m. Thursday to a report of an exhaust hood fire at Panda Garden Buffet. They learned en route that electrical power was out in the restaurant.
The restaurant owners told arriving firefighters that there was a fire and they did not know if it was out. The chief said three employees were cleared from the building. The chief also requested mutual aid from neighboring departments to provide more manpower.
The fire crews remained on the scene until approximately 3:45 p.m. Thursday.
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It was determined to be a cooking fire, which was contained to the kitchen by the exhaust hood sprinkler system. At its peak, flames were visible around the rooftop exhaust system.
The Willmar Fire Department was assisted by CentraCare Emergency Medical Services of Willmar; the Blomkest, Kandiyohi, Spicer and New London fire departments; as well as the Kandiyohi County Rescue Squad, Willmar Police Department, Willmar Public Works, Willmar Municipal Utilities and Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division.
