BOSTON -- As the state mourns the loss of two Boston firefighters, there are new revelations about the inspection history of the West Roxbury restaurant where the fire began.

According to published reports, Tai Ho was eight months overdue for a new inspection. It had also had been cited in previous years for greasy equipment and vents. The city health department said that it's not clear whether an inspection would have caught the grease build-up that fueled Wednesday night's deadly fire.

Veteran firefighters Warren Payne, 53, and Paul Cahill, 55, died in the blaze.

Boston Inspectional Services Commissioner Bill Good dismissed any notion that more frequent health inspections could have prevented the fire.

"I will tell you definitively that a health inspection is not designed to deal with more than the visual items in the kitchen," Good said. "That restaurant had no significant complaints over the last five years. An annual inspection was done. It passed those inspections. There were minor violations, and they were corrected as was required by the code. They passed the reinspection."

The restaurant was cited in 2001 and 2005 for having greasy ducts and hood vents.

"The two times the fire department cited them for having dirty hoods and ductwork right around the stove, they rectified the situation, and the violations went away," said Steve McDonald, of the Boston Fire Department.

Meanwhile, flowers, cards and candles have been left at the firehouse where the firefighters worked.

"Both of my daughters, we try to teach them about how important the sacrifices are that the firefighters make," resident Seth Grady said.

Mayor Tom Menino said that diners can feel safe in the city's restaurants.

"The inspectional service department has done a great job over the last several years on this issue, and we'll continue to support the inspectional service department," Menino said.

Menino said that the city is planning a public memorial for the two fallen firefighters.

A public viewing for Cahill will be held Wednesday at the Holy Name Church at 1689 Center St. in West Roxbury, Ma. from noon to 6.p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Holy Name Church on at 11 a.m.

Funeral services for Payne have not been announced.