Category Archives: Restaurant

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

San Antonio, TX – Fire at Riverwalk restaurant contained by sprinkler system; No other business affected

An overnight fire inside Tony Roma’s restaurant at the Shops at Rivercenter mall has left the business with heavy damage. The restaurant was not open when the fire broke out shortly after 1 a.m. Monday, and no one battling the fire suffered any injuries.

Fire officials said the fire started in a pile of towels on top of a cabinet. The fire spread to a storage area where wine and plastic containers were kept. Firefighters who responded to the fire said the sprinkler system had gone off, dumping water on the flames but also causing water damage inside the business. There was about 2-3 inches of water on the floor of the restaurant.

Firefighters said the restaurant also sustained some smoke damage. A hazardous materials team and an arson team were called to the scene to investigate, but officials said it appears the cause of the fire was accidental. No other businesses at the mall were affected.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Germantown, WI – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at popular Mexican restaurant

A popular Mexican restaurant is closed over the lunch rush today after a small kitchen fire earlier this morning.  The Germantown Fire Department responded to a call at about 8 a.m. reporting a fire on a stove in the kitchen, according to Germantown Fire Chief Gary Weiss. The fire was extinguished by the sprinkler system prior to the arrival of firefighters, Weiss said.

As of about 1 p.m., restaurant manager Michele Roitburd said they hope to reopen later this afternoon, “hopefully by 3 or 4 p.m.”  In the meantime, Roitburd said they are experiencing what she referred to as “technical difficulties” that need to be resolved prior the restaurant reopening. No further information was immediately available

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Redmond, WA – Sprinklers limit damage in possible arson fire at restaurant

Firefighters think an arsonist may be to blame for an overnight fire at an Eastside restaurant. Investigators are at the Celtic Bayou restaurant in Redmond Thursday morning.  Someone who was walking by the restaurant at about 1 a.m. saw flames inside and called 911. The restaurant’s alarm company also notified the fire department when sprinklers inside went off.

There is not yet an official cause for the fire, but the Redmond Fire Department battalion chief said it could be arson. One of the reasons that the fire is suspicious is because the flames appeared have started just inside the front door to the restaurant.

Firefighters said had it not been for the sprinkler system, the fire damage would be been far worse. “The fire itself though was held in check by the sprinklers and probably would have been a much more significant fire if it hadn’t been for the sprinkler system activation,” Ralph Ashmore with the Redmond Fire Department said. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Belcamp, MD – Sprinkler system assists firefighters in extinguishing fire at McDonald’s restaurant

A malfunctioning fryer operating system caused a fire in a McDonald’s restaurant in the Belcamp-Riverside area on Sunday afternoon, forcing the restaurant’s temporary closure, fire investigators said. The fire was reported at 4:55 p.m. by employees of McDonald’s No. 12138 in the 1300 block of Riverside Parkway, according to a notice of investigation from the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The Abingdon Volunteer Fire Company responded and brought the fire under control in about 10 minutes, according to the Fire Marshal’s Office. Also responding were units from Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company, Aberdeen Fire Department and Aberdeen Proving Ground, according to the Harford County Volunteer Fire & EMS Association.

“Crews encountered heavy fire on the interior attack,” the association posted on its Facebook page. After containing the fire to the interior of the building, crews continued to check for extension of the fire into walls and ceiling to extinguish hotspots, according to the post.

No injuries were reported, and the restaurant’s smoke alarms and sprinkler system functioned as intended, according to the notice of investigation. Damage is estimated at $5,000 to the structure and $25,000 to the contents, investigators said.  The Harford County Health Department is assisting with reopening procedures, the Fire Marshal’s Office said.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Seaside, CA – Sprinkler system keeps fire at In-N-Out Burger from spreading

A fire broke out at the new In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Seaside about 11 a.m. Sunday. Firefighters said someone threw oil in a trash can containing paper towels before the oil had enough time to cool down.  The restaurant is closed for the Easter holiday, so no one was inside when the fire started.

The restaurant’s emergency sprinkler system put out the fire and alerted the fire department. Restaurant officials have not said whether the business will be open Monday. The burger joint opened Tuesday

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Pinole, CA – Sprinkler system keeps fire at vacant restaurant from spreading to other businesses

Commercial structures worth $4 million sustained only $75,000 in damage from a Friday morning fire in Pinole, according to the Pinole Fire Department.

The fire was reported at 8:09 a.m. at 1570 Fitzgerald Drive at a recently closed HomeTown Buffet restaurant. The restaurant is part of a larger structure consisting of a Big 5 Sporting Goods store and an adjoining strip mall.

When firefighters arrived, they found the restaurant’s sprinkler system on and smoke coming from the attic, fire officials said. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the parapet area of the roof. They also ensured that water did not damage the sporting goods store’s merchandise.

Fire officials said the cause of the fire was an electrical short. The short occurred where electrical work had been done to remove the restaurant’s sign.  No one was injured and none of the other businesses sustained damage by fire or water.

Big 5 Sporting Goods opened a couple of hours late as electricity had to be shut off as firefighters extinguished the fire, according to fire officials

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Desert Hot Springs, CA – Sprinkler system holds back attic fire at Castañeda’s restaurant

Riverside County firefighters responded to a fire at Castañeda’s restaurant in Desert Hot Springs Thursday.

At around 2:29 p.m., CalFire received a report of an active fire alarm and a smell of smoke at the restaurant, which is in the 13-900 block of Palm Drive.

First responders to the fire reported nothing showing from the exterior, but upon further inspection found a fire in the attic of the building, according to CalFire. The fire was being held back by a sprinkler system.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire by around 3 p.m., according to CalFire.

No one was hurt in the fire.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Lower Heidelberg, PA – Fire at BBQ restaurant held in check by sprinkler system

Crews responded to a fire at a Berks County restaurant early Friday morning. Firefighters battled a fire at The Bar-B-Q Pit along Penn Avenue in Lower Heidelberg Township.  Berks County dispatchers say the flames broke out at about 5:30 a.m.

Fire officials say police arrived first and saw smoke and flames in the kitchen through a window. The sprinkler system held the fire in check while firefighters went in and put it out. No one was hurt.

Crews had to close Penn Avenue for about 15-20 minutes but have since reopened it. Investigators are trying to figure out what caused the fire.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Horseheads, NY – Sprinkler system and quick-thinking manager stop fire at Outback Steakhouse

The Outback Steakhouse at 200 Colonial Drive in Horseheads closed Sunday following an electrical fire at about 12:30 a.m.

Bill Degraw, Big Flats Fire Department chief, said the fire was caused by the failure of an electronic label printer, and nobody was hurt. He added the building’s sprinkler system put out the fire before officials arrived on the scene.

The fire remained isolated to one small wall in the facility and caused minor damage, said restaurant proprietor Dan Collins.

A manager on duty who was in the restaurant when the fire started “saved the day,” Collins said.

He unplugged the equipment that was on fire and then called 911, Collins said. He also insured all of the restaurant employees working at the time made it out of the restaurant safely.

Collins said the restaurant will open again after its sprinklers are reinspected by a fire marshal.

The Outback Steakhouse is scheduled to open at 5 p.m. Monday, according to director of media and community relations for Bloomin’ Brands Elizabeth Watts.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Phoenix, AZ – Nightclub fire doused by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

*** Blog Editor Note – The tragic Station Nightclub fire in Rhode Island occurred 13 years ago this month.  It claimed 100 lives ***

A rockabilly band set fire to the floor of the Rebel Lounge Saturday, triggering the venue’s sprinkler system and forcing the venue to close until Wednesday.

Los Angeles band Three Bad Jacks, which judging from their press photo appears to be as straight-up rockabilly as you can imagine, complete with a singer named Elvis, has a history of using fire in their live shows, but this one appeared to go downhill fast.

Instagram user evilchavo was there Saturday night. Evilchavo posted videos of the incident, which appear to show singer Elvis Suissa pouring a bottle of lighter fluid onto a raging fire just in front of the stage. After a rather robust squirt, the flames appear to get five or six feet high. Everyone in the crowd cheers. But then the second video shows the aftermath. Everyone is cheering until the venue’s sprinkler system kicks in, instantly turning cheers into gasps of shock as the sprinklers douse the flames — and everyone in attendance.