A fire that started in the kitchen of Theio's Restaurant, 2650 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing, was contained to the establishment's cooking area, said Rick Curry, Lansing Township's deputy fire chief.

"It appears the fire started over the grill area," he said, adding that it will take time to estimate how much damage was caused by the fire and how much it will cost the restaurant's owner.

No one inside the restaurant was injured and no firefighters were hurt while putting out the blaze, Curry said.

Cara Lane, a dietetics seniors who frequents the restaurant, said a waitress rushed the staff and patrons out of the establishment after the fire started.

"We were in the corner booth, away from the kitchen," she said.

"We came outside and hoped everything would be taken care of. After I moved my car, I saw flames coming out of the roof."