Fire Damage Forces Closure of Chinese Restaurant on A41 Watford

Yesterday afternoon (February 4), Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene of a fire incident at chinese restaurant Imperial China.

An employee Steven was on a break when he heard shouting commotion. He returned to bar area next to the kitchen and found pungent burning smell.

The restaurant had to be Evacuated and this has lost business.

The fire started upstairs, where roofers had been using a burner to apply tarpaulin. It caught alight and escalated. This also sent a torid of black smoke into the air.

This morning, staff were seen removing and bagging damaged contents following the fire.

New customers were seen parking and going to the entrance, fully unaware of what had happened and being told the eatery is unfortunately closed.

A Herts Fire Service spokesperson confirmed that teams, which include a ladder unit, are dealing with fire in the roof of the premises by the side of the A41/Elton Way Watford.

Downstairs in the restaurant is water damaged.

Staff of the restaurant say it is expected that repair work may take up to two months before the business can reopen.

Drivers were warned to avoid the area around the A41 M1 Junction 5 Roundabout by Stephenson Way due to gridlock traffic caused by roadworks and potential further delays at the dome roundabout and St Albans Road.