VALDOSTA – A Valdosta restaurant sustained significant damage during a kitchen fire Monday, but the owners hope to reopen soon.

At approximately 11:40 a.m., the Valdosta Fire Department responded to a structure fire at Beijing Cafe at 1715 Norman Drive Suite C.

“Fire personnel arrived on the scene within five minutes to find smoke showing and heavy fire in the kitchen area,” said VFD Capt. James Clinkscales. “Some of the fire was knocked down by the activation of the sprinkler system.”

Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the kitchen, and it was extinguished within 12 minutes after VFD personnel arrived, according to a statement from the department. 

No one was injured during the incident, that has been classified as an accidental cooking fire, said Clinkscales.

VFD estimates $15,000 worth of damage was done to the kitchen.

“It wasn’t super bad,” said Yan Zhu with the Beijing Cafe. “Sometimes, things like this happen and there’s no choice.”

Zhu said she expects the restaurant to be open in a few days after the kitchen is repaired.

Adam Floyd is a crime reporter at the Valdosta Daily Times.