PETALING JAYA, July 11 — A fire broke out in the popular shopping mall 1 Utama this morning resulting in almost standstill traffic along the Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP) as curious motorists slowed down to watch thick smoke rising from the shopping centre, the local daily The Star reported today.

According to The Star, a spokesperson for 1 Utama confirmed that there was a small fire at the Food Republic food court in the new wing of the shopping mall.

“We can confirm there was a small fire originating from the kitchen of one of the stalls at Food Republic. The fire did not spread and was extinguished soon after.”

The spokesperson added that no one was hurt in the incident, and the mall opened for business as usual at 10am.

“The management is waiting for a report on the cause of the fire and will conduct an inquiry into the matter,” she said to the daily.

The Star also reported a spokesman from the Damansara Utama Fire and Rescue Department as saying that the fire had already been put out by mall staff when firemen arrived at the scene at 9.30am.

“The fire could have started because the exhaust fan could not fully absorb the flames from a grill located in the kitchen,” he said.