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Firefighters Battle Blaze At Chili's Restaurant, Roads Closed

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (CBS4) - A two-alarm response was called for a fire at a Chili's restaurant on Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighters with South Metro Fire and Rescue assisted Littleton Fire Rescue with the blaze at University Boulevard and County Line Road.

Both directions of University had to be closed due to heavy smoke conditions.

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(credit: CBS)
chilis-fire-from-smfr-tweet
(credit: CBS)

It appears there was a partial roof collapse as restaurant patrons raced to get out. Approximately 40 patrons and 15 employees managed to get out safely.

The flames were first spotted by a construction crew working on the roof of the building. Workers attempted to put out the fire with a small extinguisher but it wasn't enough to battle the flames.

"There were flames coming on the roof, out of the front door, out all of the windows -- everywhere," witness Traci Klumb said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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