Jeff D’Auria was heading home from Tops on South Transit Road Friday afternoon when he saw the flames shooting out of Alexander’s Family Restaurant.
Pulling into the business’ parking lot, the Lockport resident saw an even stranger sight.
Owner Alexander Pozantidis on the roof of the restaurant, attempting to put out the flames.
Fire crews were still investigating the fire, which started in the kitchen and caused extensive damage, Friday night.
Pozantidis said he was doing paperwork in his office about noon when the fire broke out.
Several employees told sheriff’s deputies they heard a loud noise coming from the fryer vents before seeing flames in the kitchen.
The smoke had not yet spread to the dining room, where D’Auria said he could see about a dozen people eating, he said.
“I ran inside to get everybody out,” he said. “They had no clue there was a fire going on. I just ran in and said, ‘Everybody’s gotta get out of here.’ ”
Sheriff’s Sgt. Kevin Locicero said deputies responded to the scene shortly afterward and saw customers leaving through the front door. Several employees were standing outside the building, and they said everyone was out, except Pozantidis, who was still on the roof, the report said.
“The owner was trying to put out the flames on the roof,” Locicero said.
Deputies cleared the building and ordered Pozantidis to get down from the roof.
Fire crews from the South Lockport, Rapids, Wendelville, Terry’s Corners and Wright’s Corners volunteer fire departments soon arrived.
The air around the restaurant was filled with thick black smoke as firefighters broke through walls and windows to get in.
Pozantidis said no one was injured. Fire officials did not have an estimate of damages Friday night.
Local News
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Stephen Wallace
LOCKPORT: Fire strikes South Transit Road restaurant.
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