According to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, there was a three-alarm building fire at Mike’s American Grill, 6200 block of Backlick Road, Springfield on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 8:55 p.m. Approximately 150 customers and 85 employees were present at the time of the fire. All evacuated prior to fire department arrival, and in a short time, fire trucks surrounded the restaurant, extending ladders to the roof.

Officials said there were no reported civilian or firefighter injuries. Fire started in the kitchen on the first floor. The cause remains under investigation. Damages are estimated at $200,000.

In the week following the fire, contractors were busy at Mike’s, fixing the damage which was mostly on the first floor but some had creeped up to the second floor in the duct work, and that required attention too. “They are going to be open soon,” said one worker, who declined to give his name. Late Tuesday, Feb. 21 they passed inspection and planned to reopen the following day.

Mike’s American Grill is part of the Great American Restaurants chain. Other Great American Restaurants include Patsy's American and Randy's Prime in Vienna, Ozzie's Good Eats in Fairfax, Jackson's in Reston, Carlyle in Arlington and Coastal Flats in Fairfax and McLean.