Fire at Layton restaurant likely ignited by deep fryer

LAYTON — A popular Italian restaurant burned Thursday night, authorities said.

A passer-by spotted flames coming from the roof of Gabor Bros. near Gentile Street and Main Street about 11:30 p.m., said Layton fire spokesman Doug Bitton.

"We went in rapid entry, breaking a window to open the door," he said. "There was a lot of smoke; we had to use thermal imaging cameras to see inside."

Firefighters traced the blaze to the kitchen, where flames were extending from the floor to the ceiling and up through the roof, Bitton said. The blaze was so big, firefighters from Layton and nearby Kaysville were summoned to help extinguish it.

"It was mainly contained to the kitchen area," Bitton said. "The roof, we did have to open it up in different sections."

Firefighters believe the blaze was ignited by a deep fryer that was mistakenly left on. To make matters worse, Bitton said, the hood system over the fryer in the 1950s-era building was undersize and its fire suppression system was inadequate for the size of the fire.

Damage to Gabor Bros. is estimated at more than $150,000, Layton city officials said.

"It's a family restaurant that's been here for a while," Bitton said. "It's just devastating for these smaller-run restaurants."

— Ben Winslow