THOMASVILLE, Ga. — The staff on hand at Popeye’s Chicken and Biscuits before it opened Thursday got out unscathed after they smelled smoke and called for help.

 The 2525 E. Pinetree Blvd. restaurant caught fire minutes before 9:30 a.m.

The fire had been extinguished by 11 a.m., but firefighters were slated to re-enter the building later in the day to ensure no fire hotspots remained after the blaze was out.

“Employees said they smelled smoke and a few minutes later the building was filled with smoke, ” said Thomasville Fire/Rescue Chief Fire Marshal Tim Connell

Connell said the blaze began in the restaurant restroom. The fire made its way up the restroom walls and onto the roof.

The 16 firefighters who battled the blaze were evaluated after leaving the structure. Pulse and blood pressure are among the medical areas checked after firefighters leave a burning building.

Connell said the cause of the fire would be determined later Thursday.

“The guys did a really good job to stop that,” Connell said at the scene. “It could have easily burned the building down.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820