Firefighters on the roof of the Fishmarket in the Embarcadero putting out a grease fire. Photo courtesy of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department
Firefighters on the roof of the Fish Market in the embarcadero putting out a grease fire. Photo courtesy of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department

A fire erupted at a popular Embarcadero-area bayside restaurant Wednesday night, forcing an evacuation and sending heavy smoke over downtown San Diego.

The blaze at the Fish Market on North Harbor Drive began around 6:30 p.m. as kitchen grease ignited in the kitchen hood vent system, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

It took crews about 15 minutes to subdue the flames, which appeared to have been centered in the attic and vents of the structure, SDFRD Capt. Joe Amador said.

The fire caused an estimated $1.2 million in damage, the Union-Tribune reported.

About 235 people, including 160 patrons, were in the restaurant at the time, but none were injured, the Union-Tribune reported.

— City News Service