Greasy and fat-stained rags left in a laundry room dryer ignited a fire at Smokehouse BBQ restaurant just before 6 a.m. Wednesday morning, said investigators.

Firefighters took 45 minutes to get a fire under control at the building on 124th Street between 108th and 109th Avenues.

The rags left inside a laundry room dryer self-heated and then ignited, spreading quickly to the roof of the building and causing significant fire and smoke damage, said firefighters. Firefighters managed to confine the fire to the roof area., but damage to the building and contents is estimated at $500,000.

The restaurant was unoccupied at the time and nobody was hurt.