Fire in vent forces evacuation of Irvine restaurant

Diners and employees had to evacuate an Irvine restaurant Wednesday when a two-alarm fire tore through the ventilation system.

A waiter at McCormick & Schmick’s in the 2000 block of Main Street noticed smoke pouring out of a vent and called 911 at about 2:20 p.m., said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi.

About 20 employees and 15 customers evacuated the building. When firefighters arrived, the blaze had spread through most of the three-story restaurant’s duct system and into the attic, Concialdi said.

To get at the flames, crews cut holes in the building’s roof and into the walls.

“They had fire blowing out the roof when they did that,” Concialdi said.

Fifty-five firefighters responded and had the blaze under control by 3:10 p.m. With help from the building’s sprinkler system, firefighters were able to save most of the restaurant from major damage, Concialdi said.

Officials did not yet know what caused the fire, Concialdi said.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck