LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — The Lincoln County sheriff spotted a fire at a restaurant on East Main Street and notified the people inside to get out.
The fire happened Friday morning at China 1 restaurant in Lincolnton.
The Lincoln County sheriff said he was driving by when he saw the fire. He ran inside to tell the workers and they were able to get out safely.
IMAGES: Fire at Chinese restaurant in Lincoln County
"I saw what appeared to be flames coming up through the roof area," Sheriff David Carpenter said.
Boyer City firemen were in the area in a brush truck. They began fighting the fire within seconds of the sheriff's call for help.
Someone snapped a picture of the firemen fighting the blaze and you can see the sheriff holding the door open for the people inside to escape.
The owner of China 1 is heartbroken about the fire, but relieved that emergency crews were so close when it happened. His daughter, Christina Bo, was one of the ones inside when the fire broke out.
"I know there was a fire," she said. "I know that none of us actually realized how big it was."
Earlier there was a small grease fire over the stove. The employees had put out that fire but it had spread up the ventilation system. The crew was unaware as they started getting ready for the lunch rush when the sheriff drove by.
"I would at least like to say thank you," Bo said.
"I don't claim any fame for it," Carpenter said. "It's just part of the job in my opinion."
The fire mainly damaged the ventilation system. Repairs will take about a week.