Smoke at a barbecue place is normally a good thing, but at 6:27 a.m., today in Preston, it brought firefighters from Eastside Fire & Rescue out to investigate.

The fire crews responded to a report of smoke at a barbecue restaurant in the shopping center at 30700 High Point Way in Preston, caused by the restaurant’s kitchen fan not working.

“The fan vents out the smoke from the barbecuing overnight,” said Eastside Fire & Rescue spokesman Steve Westlake, but the fan either failed or was not turned on when the barbecue sauce on the cooking meat began to sizzle and smoke.

Westlake said the problem with the fan has occurred before, at this and other area barbecue restaurants.