Police, firefighters and paramedics from Arlington Heights responded about 7:02 p.m. Monday, July 6, 2026 to an automatic fire alarm at the Teriyaki Chopper restaurant, 100 East Algonquin Road, according to the Arlington Heights Fire Department. Almost immediately after dispatch, Northwest Central Dispatch System 911 center advised the Arlington Heights Battalion One fire chief that they received a call reporting smoke in the building. Battalion One immediately upgraded the alarm to a Code 3 (reported structure fire).
Arlington Heights Fire Department Engine 3, the first due engine, arrived on scene at 7:05 p.m., and employees from the Teriyaki Chopper restaurant located at 146 East Algonquin advised firefighters they had a fire in the kitchen. Upon investigation, Engine 3’s crew reported smoke in the kitchen and a sprinkler head going off, and that the fire was out. The fire department response was not upgraded to a Code 4 (working fire).
As additional crews arrived, they confirmed that all occupants had safely evacuated the restaurant, and assisted in ventilating the building and shutting down the sprinkler system to try and minimize water damage in the building.
The fire was declared out at 7:07 p.m. Crews completed a comprehensive overhaul to ensure no fire had extended into the structure and Nicor Gas was requested to the scene.
No injuries were reported.
The investigation revealed an employee moved a rice cooker to clean behind it when a gas line attached to the cooker broke, and the gas was ignited by the open flame on the cooktop grill.
This activated the fume hood which put out the fire with the assistance of one
sprinkler head outside of the hood. When the fume hood activated this also shut off the gas supply to the appliances.
The Arlington Heights Fire Department was assisted on the scene by the Arlington Heights Police
Department, Building and Life Safety Department and Health and Human Services. The restaurant, located in the Mitsuwa Marketplace was temporarily closed for cleanup and inspection for readiness to provide safe food service.
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