A Clinton Hill restaurant suffered heavy damage Thursday when a two-alarm fire broke out in the basement.
The fire broke out at about 4:10 pm at 11 Putman Ave., according to fire officials, who said the blaze damaged the ground floor eatery, Masaki Sake and Sushi, and an apartment above.
The fire quickly spread through the two-story building, officials said. Firefighters were able to battle the blaze, deemed under control just after 5 pm, but by then the building had suffered severe smoke, fire and water damage. A laundromat adjoining the property was not damaged by the fire, officials said.
Residents and workers on the scene said the restaurant was undergoing renovations while it was closed for the COVID-19 pandemic and owners were preparing for Phase 2 reopening. Fire officials are investigating whether or not the construction could have caused the fire.
One firefighter suffered minor injuries and was treated at Brooklyn Hospital.
“Smoke filled the air for a long time,” local resident Rebecca Craig said, but “the fire department got here and put the fire out rather quickly.”
This story first appeared on AMNY.com.
