Diners at the Olive Garden along East Lincoln Highway in Middletown Township were rousted from their tables and cleared out of the building as it filled with smoke Tuesday afternoon.
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At 3:10 p.m., firefighters were called to the chain eatery for a report of smoke coming from the area of the women’s bathroom.
Firefighters arrived and checked the interior, finding a charring fire inside the walls, said Sam Simon, Penndel Fire Company’s deputy chief.
It took a short time, but crews managed to track down the fire and make sure it was extinguished, Simon said.
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The fire started in the mulch outside the Olive Garden, extended into the walls, and then spread to the women’s bathroom, Simon said.
It took about 20 minutes to place the fire under control.
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The kitchen was untouched by the fire, but the Bucks County Health Department was alerted, officials said.
The restaurant suffered some electrical issues in the wake of the fire, Simon said.
The Middletown Township Fire Marshal’s Office was investigating the blaze.
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In addition to the Penndel Fire Company, the Fairless Hills Fire Company, Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company, Middletown Township Department of Fire and Emergency Management, Parkland Fire Company, and William Penn Fire Company responded.
Several fire trucks staged along East Lincoln Highway, which caused traffic impacts in the area.
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