QUEENS — Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a fire that broke out at a Forest Hills restaurant Wednesday afternoon, officials said Thursday.
The blaze erupted at Italian restaurant Biu Bella at 107-02 Queens Blvd., near 70th Avenue, around 5:30 p.m. sending thick plumes of black smoke into the air.
Fire happening here in Forest Hills. @NY1 @ABC @FoxNews #NYC pic.twitter.com/PmxAM8d1Ld
— Carlos Miguel 👑 (@TrojangBaboy) May 24, 2017
The fire, which started on the roof, was contained about 45 minutes later, fire officials said.
One person sustained minor injuries, but refused medical attention, authorities said.
"The cause of the fire is under investigation by FDNY fire marshals," a spokesman for the Fire Department said in an email Thursday morning.
The owners of the restaurant told DNAinfo New York on Thursday morning they don't know what caused the fire, but that the roof suffered the most damage.
"Thank you everyone for your support ... we will [be] back soon," they wrote on the restaurant's Facebook page, adding that the eatery will remain closed "until further notice."
"We are still in shock," said Adriana Morote, who used to work at Biu Bella, before opening her own restaurant last year. "It was scary."
The single-story structure housing the restaurant is slated to be demolished in order to make room for an 8-story luxury office building, the owners of the property said in December.
