A fire in the food preparation area of Logan’s Roadhouse this morning will close the restaurant on Premier Boulevard for at least a couple of days, its manager said.

Roanoke Rapids firefighters received a fire alarm call around 3:50 this morning, according to Battalion Chief Jason Patrick. As firefighters left they began getting multiple alarm calls.

Smoke was visible outside the restaurant and inside the building was thick smoke. Firefighters found fire in the kitchen area. Sprinklers helped contain the fire to that area, although it did get into the walls.

The fire was contained within 30 minutes and firefighters stayed on the scene until about 7:30 this morning.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Patrick said. Foul play is not suspected and it appeared to start in the wall around the food preparation area.

Water damage was contained in the food preparation area and there was also electrical damage. There was smoke damage throughout the building, Patrick said.

Visible evidence of the fire.

The sprinkler system possibly spared the restaurant from worse damage, the battalion chief said. “If they didn’t have that sprinkler system there would be more damage. Those sprinkler heads did a good job.”

This morning employees were cleaning chairs and tables outside the restaurant where the smell of smoke was still palpable.

Manager Brian Barrett said he arrived between 5 and 5:30 this morning. “It will be closed for a couple of days,” he said. “We haven’t seen the contractors yet.”

Barrett said firefighters told him the fire apparently started in a wall but said they have not determined what started it.

“We had employees rolling up at 8 so we got them wiping chairs and tables,” he said.

Patrick said 18 Roanoke Rapids firefighters responded along with four members of the Roanoke Valley Rescue Squad.