Large fire destroys popular Asian restaurant in Germantown

Annie McCormick Image
Saturday, February 27, 2016
VIDEO: Popular Germantown restaurant destroyed by fire
Investigators still don't know what caused a destructive fire in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.

GERMANTOWN (WPVI) -- A large fire has destroyed a popular Asian restaurant in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.

The fire began around 1 a.m. Friday at the House of Jin restaurant at the intersection of West Chelten and Pulaski avenues.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire consuming the building.

Philadelphia firefighters battled a fire at the House of Jin restaurant in the Germantown neighborhood.

Flames could be seen shooting through the roof of the restaurant, which serves Chinese and Japanese cuisine.

Crews at the scene say the flames moved quickly, eventually engulfing the entire structure.

It took firefighters more than an hour to bring the situation under control, officials say.

Authorities say this could have been devastating to even more businesses on the block, but firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading.

No injuries were reported.

The fire marshal was on the scene trying to determine the cause of the blaze.

The owner, who was too shaken to talk to Action News on camera, told us he has been in business for 18 years, and that luckily no one was inside when the fire happened.

Crews focused most of their attention on the kitchen, but at this time they are not releasing where they believe the fire began until the investigation is complete.