RIVERSIDE, Ill. (CBS) – A grease fire sent thick, black smoke filling the air outside the North Riverside Mall in the western suburbs Thursday, forcing the mall’s food court to close for hours.
The fire started around 11:15 am on Thursday morning.
No one was injured, but the fire burned a charred area visible on the exterior of the mall. The smoke was so thick that people in and near the mall thought the fire was much worse than it was.
Video posted on the Citizen App showed the fire at the Smokehouse restaurant. North Riverside Mayor Joseph Mengoni said the fire also spread to a neighboring restaurant.
“You never want to see that in your city, but yes, there was a lot of smoke damage,” Mengoni said.
He added that everyone from the entire mall area was evacuated. Only one food court restaurant was affected.
Crews continued working Thursday to clean the food court.
A spokesperson said the mall reopened on Thursday, but the food court remains closed for health inspection and will reopen on Friday.
The North Riverside Mall is home to more than 130 stores, services and restaurants.
Suzanne Le Mignot
