As Whitehall Township Fire Chief Robert Benner sped Sunday to a fire call at Perkins Family Restaurant & Bakery on MacArthur Road, black smoke billowed skyward and bright orange flames darted from the roof.

Benner was first on the scene. Township fire trucks and helmeted firefighters quickly arrived and extinguised the blaze within a half-hour, avoiding what might have been disastrous consequences.

"We received the call at 5:19 p.m.," Benner said, noting the fire trucks and manpower were at the scene in five minutes.

"In a half-hour we had the fire knocked down,"' he said. Another 30 minutes was spent as "overhaul," securing the building and making certain the blaze was out.

Firefighter Michael Nester was injured when his hand was crushed by a fire department ladder. He was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital where he was admitted for treatment.

Benner commented Monday on the origin of the fire.

"It started in the northeast corner, the front part of the restaurant," he said.

There were five employees and nine guests in the restaurant when the fire broke out. Everyone left the premises in an orderly fashion and none were harmed.

Benner said the wiring which runs to the building and powers the neon lights was the cause of the fire. A preliminary estimate of damages was set at $50,000. Firm figures will be determined by insurance adjustors.

He said the restaurant is expected to reopen later after repairs are completed.

The township's five companies – Fullerton, Hokendauqua, Cementon, Egypt and West Catasauqua – responded to the fire alarm. Han-Le-Co, Hanover Township (Lehigh County) and Greenawalds, South Whitehall Township, were also at the scene.

"There were approximately 50 personnel fighting the fire, some on ladders and onto the roof," Benner said.

Along with damage to the roof and facade, there is water damage inside, some of it caused when a sprinkler system activated.

Whitehall Township Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. commented on the firefighters' efforts.

"I'm very appreciative of the fire department and personnel," he said. "I wish [Nester] well."

He congratulated the department for the rapid response and professional work in containing the fire.

"It's not as bad as it looks," he said of the damage.