Firefighter suffers burns in Melbourne restaurant blaze

The man was taken to hospital with burns to his face following a fire at Korean restaurant, the White Tomato, overnight Sunday.

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) says the fire started in the kitchen at the rear of the Bourke Street restaurant about 1.40am (AEST) and spread to a mezzanine level via a flue.

The first of 27 firefighters arrived at the scene within three minutes and managed to stop the blaze spreading but the building was heavily impacted by heat and smoke.

The fire caused an estimated $200,000 damage.

Firefighters are investigating the cause of the outbreak.

The restaurant was closed at the time.