SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- A fire ripped through a restaurant in a Kearny Mesa strip mall late Monday evening, but no injuries were reported.
Just before 9:30 p.m., firefighters were called to 4698 Convoy St., near Engineer Road, in response to a fire at the China Max restaurant, located in the Plaza Del Sol strip mall.
The blaze spread to several businesses next to the two-story restaurant as crews arrived at the scene.
At one point, firefighters were forced to stay away from the building due to what was described as a "smoke explosion."
By 11 p.m., the flames were knocked down, but heavy smoke continued to billow from the structure.
Devastating fire at China Max Seafood Restaurant in Kearny Mesa. @SDFD says there was a rare backdraft smoke explosion that blew out the front of the restaurant. Damage estimated $4.5m, cause undetermined @10News pic.twitter.com/mOMhetcGl3
— Mary McKenzie 10News (@10NewsMaryMac) April 7, 2020
No injuries were immediately reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
