Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Meridian, MS – Sprinkler system helps save Outback Steakhouse

An automatic sprinkler system apparently did enough to help save Meridian from losing its Outback Steakhouse.  Meridian Fire Chief Anthony Clayton said Tuesday that the sprinkler system did its job well enough to aid the arrival of the Meridian Fire Department, which extinguished the Monday afternoon fire at the steakhouse located at the Meridian Crossroads.

“Had it not been for the automatic sprinkler system, the building would have burned up,” Clayton said.  Clayton said his investigative team concluded the fire was caused by corrosion in its gas line.

“It had been caused from the cleaning solvents used,” he said. “The solvents had corroded the line and it failed. It ignited. Because the automatic sprinkler system activated, it kept the damage to a minimum. It allowed us time to get there and put it out.”

Clayton said the restaurant suffered smoke damage and could be reopened in a couple of days.