Iowa City fire crews responded to a a small fire at Takanami restaurant over the Thanksgiving break.

The Iowa City Fire Department responded to a report of smoke in Takanami, 217 Iowa Ave., at approximately 9:15 a.m. on Nov. 23.

As the three engines, a ladder truck, and the battalion chief — a total of 15 personnel — arrived, evacuation was in process.

According to fire officials, firefighters found one single sprinkler system was activated in the back of the restaurant to extinguish a fire in a linen basket. Fire crews, finding the fire was extinguished, shut down the still-flowing water and ventilated the building. Occupants later were allowed back into the building. No one was displaced.

The Fire Department said there were no civilian or firefighter casualties in the fire. Fire crews were on the scene for one hour, and department investigators stayed for three hours.

Crews determined the cause of the fire to be a "spontaneous combustion" of kitchen towels in the linen basket. The department estimated the damage to be $5,000.

— by Nina Earnest