Crews contain Saturday afternoon fire at Charleston barbecue restaurant

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Charleston firefighters quickly contained a Saturday afternoon fire at a popular barbecue restaurant.

The Charleston Fire Department was dispatched to a possible structure fire at Bessingers Barbecue on Savannah Highway shortly after 2:30 p.m.

Crews arrived to find smoke in the building and found fire above the ceiling in the back kitchen.

“Firefighters worked to quickly contain the fire above the ceiling and extinguished the fire that had extended to the exterior roof,” said officials.

Officials said it was determined that the fire started near the exhaust system of the operating kitchen equipment.

Damage to the business was minimal and fire officials said the restaurant returned to partial operation shortly after the incident.

No injuries were reported.