Although the fire was extinguished quickly, firefighters remained at the scene for several hours to control water damage caused by the sprinkler system at the Hong Kong Harbor View Restaurant, where the fire began in the kitchen, said HFD spokesman Capt. Gary Lum.

Lum said the fire was confined to the oven area in the kitchen.

"The sprinkler system was activated in the restaurant, so that contained the fire," said Lum. "Right now there is some water damage to the restaurant from the sprinkler system, and to the office just below the second floor restaurant."

Customers and employees were evacuated from the restaurant and the Star of Honolulu dinner cruise business office below it. Businesses adjacent to the restaurant and cruise office remained open, Lum said.

Firefighters, who arrived on the scene within two minutes of the alarm, were hampered to some extent by the traffic congestion and the fact that they had to carry equipment to the second floor, said Lum.