THUNDER BAY -- Emergency crews were dispatched to the McIntyre Centre strip mall on Memorial Avenue Tuesday morning.
Thunder Bay Firefighters, Union Gas and Thunder Bay Hydro crews all responded to a suspected natural gas leak at approximately 10:00 a.m.
The fire department ordered the temporary evacuation of businesses in the mall.
Most re-opened after the all-clear was given at about 11:20.
However, the Four Season Buffet restaurant remained closed on Tuesday afternoon.
A spokesperson for Union Gas said the investigation revealed that cooktop burners in the restaurant had been left in the "ON" position, which led to a natural gas odour first observed in a business next door.
No one was hurt in the incident.
According to David Primorac of Union Gas, the province's Technical Standards and Safety Authority is onsite and has placed a Cease and Desist order on the restaurant due to a number of infractions.
However, a representative of the TSSA told tbnewswatch.com in an email that the incident remained under investigation, and that the cause had yet to be determined.
An individual who answered the phone at the restaurant said renovations were underway.
