Exhaust hood apparatus

An exhaust hood apparatus for use at a cooking station for exhausting air containing cooking by-products to an external environment through an exhaust duct having an exhaust fan, said exhaust hood apparatus comprising:

• a hood positioned over said cooking station;
• said hood being connected to said exhaust duct through a plenum chamber;
• said exhaust fan drawing air from said hood and forcing said air to said external environment through said exhaust duct;
• washing means mounted in said plenum chamber;
• a first valve assembly connecting said washing means to a first water source;
• fire detecting means mounted in said hood for detecting uncontrolled fires;
• controller means for controlling the operation of the exhaust hood apparatus;
• said controller means being electrically connected to at least (a) said exhaust fan, (b) said valve assembly, and (c) said fire detecting means;
• said controller means being at least so configured as to energize said exhaust fan and to open said first valve assembly, thereby activating said washing means when an uncontrolled fire is detected by said fire detecting means;
• whereby a portion of the water exiting said washing means is drawn in said exhaust duct through said plenum chamber by said exhaust fan, thereby cooling both said exhaust duct and said plenum chamber.