Garlic butter inadvertently placed over a pilot light is believed to have ignited a fire that damaged the kitchen of the landmark Plaza Cafe early Sunday.

Firefighters responded to a call about 12:30 a.m. from a passerby who saw flames shooting from the roof of the restaurant at 54 Lincoln Ave., said Santa Fe Fire Department Battalion Chief Katie Cassidy.

Cassidy and Chef Andy Razatos, whose family has owned the historic restaurant since 1947, said fire, water and smoke damage was confined to the kitchen, especially the vent system over the stove as well as the ceiling and roof of the building.

Razatos said that although no other areas of the cafe were damaged, the restaurant is expected to be closed for about two weeks for cleanup.

No neighboring structures were damaged, Cassidy said, except for the roofs of offices above the cafe, and the adjoining two-story Ore House, where firefighters had to break in through the front door to ensure no areas of that building were on fire. The broken-down door was the only damage to the Ore House, which was closed and unoccupied at the time, Cassidy said.

Razatos said the cafe, which has been in the same spot since 1904, had closed about 11 p.m., and that building also was not occupied.

He said it appears that the blaze was caused by an "ill-placed container of garlic butter left over a pilot light." The vent system over the stove worked as it was supposed to — channeling the blaze upward and preventing damage to other areas of the cafe.

Cassidy said firefighters were forced to cut their way through the roof and "open up the vent system" to get at the fire.

About 20 firefighters fought the blaze, which took about a half-hour to extinguish, Cassidy said. They were on the scene for about three hours, she said.

Cassidy said the fire may have been slowing burning for several hours before it reached the roof.

The blaze eventually "erupted into a fireball, but fortunately we had a very good vent system," and the fire went straight up rather than engulfing the interior, Razatos said.

Razatos said the closure of the cafe for two weeks will take a bite out income because the Fiesta de Santa Fe weekends are two of the busiest times of the year.

He said no monetary estimate has been placed on the amount of property damage.

Razatos praised the firefighters' quick response.

"The Fire Department did an absolutely spectacular job," Razatos said. "Santa Fe should be honored to having them serve us. If not for their quick response and professionalism, the fire would have been much worse."