Category Archives: Restaurant

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Winter Park, CO – Kitchen ductwork fire contained by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

A fire in the kitchen ductwork at Casa Mexico caused the evacuation of the third floor of the Cooper Creek shopping center in Winter Park on Saturday.

The East Grand Fire District responded to reports of a fire on the roof around 11:40 p.m. Saturday and found smoke inside and outside the restaurant.

The smoke was coming from a small fire in the kitchen ductwork, and crews extinguished the blaze. The exhaust fan on the roof was damaged, but no cooking equipment was harmed by the flames.

However, the restaurant and the former location of Smokin’ Moe’s below it both suffered some water damage when the hood system discharged fire retardant and the sprinkler system came on.

East Grand Fire Chief Todd Holzwarth said the system worked as it was designed to and contained the fire. Crews had the sprinkler system and alarm back in service, as well as all flames out, by 1:10 a.m.

Firefighters suspect grease built up in the ductwork contributed to the fire, but they are not sure what ignited it. The restaurant closes at 10 p.m.

Owner Esteban Rocha said the restaurant would remain closed for repairs and wasn’t yet sure how long that would take. He said he is just glad no one was hurt.

Staff living on the third floor of the building were evacuated, but there were no injuries related to the fire.

Hotel / Restaurant, Office Building, Other Business, Restaurant

Chicago, IL – Fire at high-rise contained by fire sprinklers; no injuries reported

No one was injured Thursday when a fire broke out at a Starbucks along the Chicago River in the West Loop.

Firefighters were called about 12:20 p.m. for a fire in the coffee shop in the lobby of the high-rise at 150 N. Riverside Plaza, according to Chicago Fire Dept. spokesman Larry Langford.

“The fire was contained to the Starbucks, and it looks like everything is under control,” Langford said. He said the sprinkler system was engaged and the fire was put out within the hour.

A preliminary investigation indicates the fire may have started in the brewing machine or dishwasher, Langford said.

Several ambulances and fire engines were called to the site as a precaution, and crews remained on scene after the fire was extinguished to douse the burned area, Langford said.

Employees in the building were ordered to shelter in their offices, since evacuating a building so large would be unnecessary in this case, Langford said. Some people, however, evacuated on their own.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, Langford said.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Pekin, IL – Sprinkler system keeps fire from spreading at local pizzeria

The Godfather’s Pizza in Pekin was damaged in an early morning blaze Monday.

Pekin Fire Chief Kurt Nelson said the call came in at 12:44 a.m. Monday from employees who lived in the area. Smoke was seen coming out of the building and first responders found heavy smoke conditions in the kitchen.

Firefighters found a small fire in a closet, which was contained due to the sprinkler system preventing the fire from spreading, Nelson said.

The cause is still under investigation and initial estimated damage is between $10,000 and $25,000.

In a Facebook post by Godfather’s, the company said it’s a landmark location and one of the oldest Godfather’s in the country.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Cortland, NY – Fire that started in restaurant duct work quickly put out by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

City of Cortland Fire crews yesterday (September 11) responded to an early-afternoon kitchen fire at the Wild Ginger Asian Fusion restaurant on Main Street.

Deputy Chief Wayne Friedman says it started in the ductwork of the restaurant and was put out quickly around 3 p.m. by the building’s sprinkler system.

Thankfully, no one was injured in the fire and damage was kept to a minimum.

The Cortland County Health Department also responded and will now have to clear the restaurant for cleanliness before it can reopen to customers.

It will also follow up on any necessary structural repairs that need to be made.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Wilkes-Barre, PA – Sprinkler system keeps kitchen fire under control at Caribbean restaurant

A kitchen fire damaged a Caribbean restaurant in downtown Wilkes-Barre late Saturday night, according to city fire Capt. Robert Smith.

Firefighters responded to an activated fire alarm at Hartman Jerk Center, 72 S. Main St., at about 10:10 p.m. Saturday, according to Smith.

A sprinkler system in the restaurant’s kitchen had mostly extinguished the fire by the time firefighters arrived, Smith said.

The restaurant is closed for now until heat and water damage is cleaned up, according to Smith. He said he did not know how long the restaurant would need to remain closed.

The cause of the fire had not been determined as of Sunday night, but firefighters had no reason to believe it is suspicious, Smith said.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Erie, PA – Local pizza shop fire contained thanks to fire sprinkler activation

Fire at Summit Township pizza shop brought out firefighters early Saturday morning, but they said an effective sprinkler system put it out, and security camera video showed how it started.

Perry Hi-Way Hose and assisting companies came to Brooklyn Pizza on Rotunda Dr. just before 6 a.m.

Security video shows pizza boxes stored near the oven fell into a pilot light and touched off the fire. That kicked off the sprinkler system, which snuffed out the fire.

Firefighters forced entry from the front and back but found the big problem was water damage

Perry Hi-Way Chief Kip Hayford said a good firewall kept the fire from spreading.

Mariners Insurance had a little water damage, and the cell phone repair store vented a little smoke, but both were able to open for business.

The pizza shop said on Facebook it will be closed until further notice due to the fire.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Vineyard Haven, MA – Sprinkler system activation keeps kitchen fire under control at local restaurant; No injuries reported

A small cooking explosion at Vineyard Carribbean Cuisine drew a full emergency response on Tuesday afternoon, snarling traffic at the Five Corners intersection in Vineyard Haven for an hour.

Tisbury fire chief John Schilling said the explosion happened when a butane single-burner appliance malfunctioned. No one was injured, and damage to the building was minimal.

“The small explosion of the fuel source caught the unit on fire, and the fire extended to surrounding materials on counter top and traveled up the wall,” Chief Schilling said. He added, “The sprinkler system activated and did its job.”

The incident happened near the intersection at about 3:55 p.m. on Tuesday, “on a rainy afternoon in August while the boat’s unloading,” Mr. Schilling said. Tisbury fire, police and EMS responded and staged equipment on the Beach street extension.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Arnold, MO – Fire sprinkler system activated for grease fire at local restaurant

Firefighters rushed to a two-alarm fire at a Mexican restaurant in Arnold overnight.

The call came out for the fire at the Las Fuentes Mexican Restaurant around 11:30 p.m. Monday. When crews arrived on the scene, they reportedly found smoke and a small amount of fire inside the restaurant that was being contained by the sprinkler system.

Because the building is large and houses multiple businesses, the fire quickly struck a second alarm. The fire extended from the kitchen area to the roof through the vent system but was knocked down quickly.

Most of the damage was from smoke and water but there was minor fire damage in the kitchen. Some smoke extended into a neighboring business but there were no damages.

The fire was caused by a pot of grease left unattended after the restaurant closed, according to authorities. 

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Lake Tahoe, NV – Restaurant sprinkler system keeps kitchen fire in check; No injuries reported

The Fox & Hound on top of Kingsbury Grade in Stateline sustained some damage Tuesday after a fire broke out in the kitchen area. All patrons and employees were able to get out with no injuries.

According to Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District Fire Marshal Eric Guevin, the call came in just about noon on July 9.

Upon the fire department’s arrival, they found the restaurant’s sprinkler system had been activated and took care of the fire and they went into the attic and back of house to do an overhaul to make sure the fire had not spread.

At this time there is no cause determined and it is unknown when they will be able to reopen. Guevin said the damage was contained to the back of the house.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Waldrick, NJ – Fire caused by air conditioning unit at Pizzeria kept in check by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Sprinklers at a Waldwick pizzeria kept a blaze at bay until borough firefighters could douse it around midnight Monday, authorities said.

Smoke poured through Waldwick Pizza, as well as the adjacent Waldwick Bar and Liquors, Waldwick Wash and Dry and Giant Farmers Market on Wyckoff Avenue.

Firefighters forced open the pizzeria’s rear door to get at the flames, which were tamped by sprinklers.

A second alarm brought additional manpower to the smoky blaze.

No injuries were reported.

Borough Police Officer Jake Wanamaker was on patrol when he heard the alarm, saw the fire and alerted emergency responders, Lt. Thomas Dowling said.

Authorities were investigating the cause, the lieutenant said.

“The Health Department also was notified and was conducting a follow-up investigation,” Dowling said.