One day after a Clearfield County restaurant was destroyed by flames, officials said the building's fire suppression system did not work because the fire started in the ceiling above it.

The fire then spread to the rest of the building.

The fast-moving fire at a Perkins Restaurant in Sandy Township happened during one of the busiest times of the day. The back end of the building collapsed and speakers hung down Friday from what was left of the ceiling.

Many former Perkins employees stopped by the site to look at the damage and talk with the owners, saying they still can't believe how fast the fire spread.

Investigators said the fire started in the ceiling of the restaurant's kitchen. Just minutes after smoke was detected, customers were evacuated.

Crews said the fire was very intense by the time they arrived at the scene. One firefighter was taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation and was treated and released.

A neighboring Burger King was still closed Friday. Though it did not suffer any major fire damage, workers there were still cleaning up from smoke and heat damage.

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