Lakeport and Kelseyville firefighters work to put out a fire at the Burger King in Lakeport, Calif., on Sunday, January 1, 2012. The fire had begun in the restaurant's hood system and spread to the attic, but Lakeport Fire Capt. Bob Ray said the building did not sustain major structural damage. Photo by Becky Hirscher.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A hood fire has been ruled the cause of a fire on New Year’s morning at the Burger King in Lakeport.

Firefighters were dispatched to the fast food restaurant, located at 1142 Lakeport Blvd., at 10:50 a.m. Sunday, according to Lakeport Fire Capt. Bob Ray.

Lakeport Fire responded with a ladder truck and an engine, with Kelseyville Fire sending two engines on mutual aid, Ray said.

By the time firefighters arrived everyone was out of the restaurant, so Ray did not know how many employees or customers may have been in the building at the time the fire broke out.

“It originated in the hood system above the deep fat fryer,” he said of the fire’s cause.

“Their hood extinguishing system did activate and it controlled the fire. It didn’t totally put it out,” Ray added.

He said the grease fire burned hot enough and long enough that the heat radiated out from the metal hood system and into the surrounding wood framing, allowing the fire to get into the attic.

Ray said firefighters had to cut a hole in the roof around the duct system in order to access all of the fire. They also pulled down ceiling tiles from below in the kitchen.

The fire was confined to that area around the hood, with a 7 foot by 7 foot hole cut in the ceiling and roof, Ray said.

While Lakeport Fire was committed to the Burger King incident, Ray said two medical aids were reported in the city. He said the second Kelseyville engine and a Northshore Fire unit from Nice assisted with responding to those calls.

Lakeport Fire remained on scene at Burger King until approximately 11:59 a.m., Ray said.

The fire has been ruled accidental, he said.

Ray had no available estimate of damage, although he said that it would be in the thousands to make the repairs.

The fire did not damage the building’s main structure, but Ray said the hood system will have to be replaced, necessitating the restaurant’s closure for what he estimated would be more than a few days.

“There’s quite a bit to do to get it back in service,” Ray said.

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Firefighters had to cut a hole in the roof of the Burger King in Lakeport, Calif., on Sunday, January 1, 2012, in order to access a fire that spread from the hood system into the attic and roof. Photo by Becky Hirscher.

A firefighter works to put out a fire that spread from the hood system into the attic of the Burger King in Lakeport, Calif., on Sunday, January 1, 2012. Firefighters had to pull down ceiling tiles and cut a hole in the roof to put it the fire out. Photo by Becky Hirscher.