A fast-moving fire swept through Deon's restaurant on State Road in North Tisbury on Sunday night, completely destroying a preparation area in the rear of the building and causing severe structural and smoke damage to the kitchen and dining area.

Owners of the year-round restaurant said the eatery would be closed for repairs until at least the spring and may not reopen until summer.

The state fire marshall announced yesterday that the fire was caused by a wall heater in the preparation area at the rear of the restaurant.

The fire reportedly started around 9:50 p.m. Sunday, about an hour after the last customers and employees left the building. There were no injuries.

Officials from the state fire marshall's office were at the scene Monday sifting through charred remains and looking for clues.

West Tisbury fire chief Manuel Estrella said flames were shooting through the windows facing the roadway on the east side of the building when firefighters arrived on the scene. Four trucks from the West Tisbury department — two tankers and two first-line vehicles' responded to the call, while two additional trucks and firefighters arrived to provide additional support.

Firefighters hit the blaze with hoses from the front and rear of the building, Mr. Estrella said. They also knocked a hole in the roof over the kitchen and removed a large exhaust fan over the main grill to douse simmering embers in the rafters.

“We got up into the eaves and found some hot spots,” the chief said. "We tried to go around the [exhaust] fan but in the end we just had to take it out to make sure the building was safe."

The prep area at the rear was completely destroyed while the kitchen sustained heavy smoke and structural damage. A work crew spent most of Monday shoveling out charred remains, including insulation and metal gratings twisted and charred by the heat.

The dining area sustained moderate smoke damage and a fine layer of black soot covered the chairs, tables and glassware.

Emily Thomas, one of the restaurant’s owners, said the timing of the fire could not have been worse.

“It’s our first year open, so we are just struggling to make it,” Mrs. Thomas said. “I really feel bad for our employees; some of our cooks and servers are already out looking for jobs, and they are hard to find this time of year.”

The building housing the restaurant has a varied past. It has been used for an ice cream shop and a number of restaurants, including the Red Cat Cafe and Bittersweet.

Mrs. Thomas said insurance is expected to cover the cost of the damages.

She said the restaurant will be closed for the next few months while workers repair the damages. She was not sure, exactly, when the restaurant will reopen, but said it should be open in time for the busy summer season.

“It’s going to take some time, but we are eager to get going again,” she said.