Fire damages Painters' Restaurant

An early morning fire on Tuesday damaged Painters' Restaurant in Brookhaven Hamlet, police and fire officials said.

No one was injured in the blaze, which officials said appears to have started in the kitchen area. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Suffolk County police Arson Squad. It was not immediately clear how much damage was caused by the blaze.

The fire was reported at 3:34 a.m., Suffolk fire officials said.

Volunteers from Brookhaven, Bellport and Hagerman fire departments responded, as did South Country Ambulance.

Fire officials said it took about two hours for the fire to be declared under control.

Police said South Country Road was briefly closed so firefighters could battle the blaze, but said the road had been reopened by 6:30 a.m.