Roof fire shuts down Dynasty; blaze thought to have started in exhaust fan

A grew of firefighters are hoisted above the roof to inspect the damage in a roof fire at the Dynasty Restaurant (Rochester Voice photos)

ROCHESTER - A fire in an exhaust system is the likely culprit in a roof fire today at Dynasty Restaurant.

Firefighters responded to the blaze around 10:30 a.m. after it was called in by Rochester Fire Chief Dennis Dube, who while standing out in front of the Wakefield stationhouse was informed by a keen-eyed passer-by they'd seen fire on the roof of the restaurant.

Rochester Fire Deputy Chief of Prevention Adam Hughes said when firefighters first arrived the roof at 24 Signal St. was still ablaze, but firefighters quickly knocked it down.

Rochester firefighters at the scene of today's roof fire at the Dynasty Restaurant

He said only the exhaust system and the roof were affected by the fire.

"The damage was from the vent and up," he said.

Firefighters from Dover, Milton and Somersworth assisted at the scene.

Around 11:30 a.m. one of the Rochester ladder trucks hoisted a crew of firefighters above the roof to inspect the damage.

By noon a few trucks were still there, but most had left.

Hughes said it appears the exhaust fan was the source of the fire.

One bystander who said he knew some of the kitchen help said they were preparing for their regular Sunday buffet when the blaze broke out.

Everybody was able to get out safely, said Hughes, who expects the restaurant will probably be out of commission a few days while they deal with the cleanup.