A weekend fire at a Gilbert Panda Express left one employee injured and caused significant damage to the restaurant, according to local officials.
The blaze broke out shortly after 9 a.m. Saturday at the Panda Express near Market Street and Williams Field Road. Witnesses reported seeing thick, dark smoke rising from the building before firefighters arrived.
Crews from the Gilbert Fire and Rescue Department were first on scene, later joined by units from Mesa and Chandler after the incident was upgraded to a first-alarm fire, said department spokesperson Aaron Barton.
When firefighters arrived, flames and heavy smoke were pouring from the roof. Teams entered the restaurant to make sure all employees and customers were safely evacuated before tackling the fire in the kitchen’s cooking area. Ladder crews simultaneously worked to douse flames spreading across the roof.
One worker suffered minor burns to his hand and was treated at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
Authorities closed northbound Market Street for several hours while emergency crews contained the fire. The restaurant sustained visible damage, and it remains unclear when it will reopen for business.
Investigators are still determining what caused the fire.
