Around 100 people were evacuated from an eight-storey building in Sydney, Australia when a fire broke out in the basement, in the kitchen of the Emperor’s Choice Chinese restaurant in the city’s CBD (Central Business District).  The fire quickly spread to the roof via an external flue, with flames and smoke visible from outside the building.

Firefighters were on the scene within minutes and it was due to the rapid response that the fire was quickly contained.  The fire caused damage to the kitchen and some water damage to the restaurant. An investigation is taking place into the cause of the fire.  However, a New South Wales Fire and Rescue spokesman is quoted as saying that it looks like the fire spread into the exhaust ducting, which was what all the smoke and flame was emitting from the top of the building, and that the fire was aided by fat deposits from exhaust fans.