Category Archives: Restaurant

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Pekin, IL – Sprinklers hold arson fire in check at popular restaurant and tavern

An employee of a popular restaurant and tavern allegedly asked another for advice on how to set it on fire — now he is charged with arson.

The combination of flaming stove burners and cooking oil, left atop the stove and spread on walls, caused minor damage to Goodfellas Pub & Pizza on Wednesday, though the business remained closed Monday.

That obvious evidence of arson and his own statements led police on Friday to arrest Scott Sutherland, 34, of Pekin. He was charged in bonding court Sunday and remained in custody Monday on $10,000 bond.

Sutherland’s alleged plan to destroy the business at 1414 N. Eighth St. “didn’t work out the way he thought it would,” Pekin Deputy Fire Chief Brian Cox said Monday. Cooking oil “is not very flammable.”

Sutherland, a bartender and cook, told a fellow employee sometime before the fire “about moving to Texas and burning the business down,” and asked her if she knew how to set it on fire, according to a prosecutor’s court affidavit.

Loud and electronic alarms set off by a sprinkler system alerted an officer in the area of the North Eighth Street Plaza, where Goodfellas is located, and firefighters to the smoldering flames in the business shortly before noon.

While other businesses in the plaza were evacuated, the sprinklers kept the fire “in check until we got there,” Cox said.  Firefighters discovered that all of the restaurant’s kitchen burners had been left on full blast, as well as its broiler and a fryer, the affidavit stated. A box of cooking oil sat on one of the burners, while more oil was smeared on walls where evidence of fire also was found.

Sutherland allegedly prepared what he thought would turn into a huge blaze more than six hours earlier, after the business closed for the night.

The restaurant’s security video equipment was missing, but video from another security system in the area recorded a man identified as Sutherland in the building between 4 and 5 a.m., “holding electronic equipment and pouring a substance on hallway walls,” the affidavit stated.  

Several employees said Sutherland was the last worker to leave Goodfellas the night before the fire and had keys to the business, the affidavit stated.

Sutherland told police Friday that he didn’t remember setting the fire and didn’t do so on purpose, but thought it might have been “a drunken mistake,” the affidavit stated.

He said he had returned to the business after closing to retrieve his apartment keys. He slipped on grease on the kitchen floor and bumped the stove, but didn’t think he turned it on.

 

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Frisco, TX – Sprinkler system keeps early morning restaurant fire from spreading

A Frisco restaurant is temporarily closed, but spared thousands of dollars of damages thanks to their fire sprinkler system, according to the Frisco Fire Department. Frisco firefighters responded to a “water flow” call at 5:08 a.m. on May 21 from the alarm company that monitors the Posados on the 9500 block of S.H. 121.

When the firefighters arrived at 5:14 a.m., they discovered a kitchen full of smoke.  It took four engines and two ladder trucks to put out the fire at 5:30 a.m.

“The fire sprinkler system did what it’s supposed to do,” said Captain Kevin Haines of the Frisco Fire Department. “The restaurant was closed and no one was working at the time. That early in the morning, there are fewer people ‘out and about’, who might to notice and report a problem. In this case, the activated sprinklers slowed the fire’s ability to grow until firefighters arrived. There’s no doubt, fire sprinklers save property and lives.”

The Frisco Posados will be closed at least five days for repairs. There has been no report of any injuries.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Montgomery, AL – Sprinklers help contain grill fire at downtown restaurant; No injuries

A two-alarm fire Wednesday afternoon in the kitchen of Dreamland Bar-B-que in downtown Montgomery’s Alley development caused only light damage, despite sparking a dramatic jet of flame above the city’s skyline. The restaurant expects to reopen within a few days.

Wesley Dillard said he was eating near the kitchen at about 2:30 p.m. when “someone came running out to the table and said, ‘Everybody needs to get out of here immediately! The grill’s on fire!’”

No injuries were reported, and emergency officials said there was no impingement to the interior.

Dillard joined a crowd watching from across the street as all floors of the building were evacuated. A 10-foot jet of flame bellowed from the stack above the restaurant a few minutes later.

Fire officials said the sprinkler system activated. The flame above the restaurant disappeared about 2:40 p.m., and officials confirmed that the fire was under control before 3 p.m.

“I just hope there wasn’t too much damage,” Dillard said.

Dreamland ownership partner Bob Parker said the only damage was caused by the sprinklers. He said the ventilation system functioned properly, and the jet of flame was caused by the grease burning out. The restaurant hopes to reopen by Saturday.

In September, a kitchen fire at Central restaurant in the Alley forced the eatery to close for several days. Dreamland provided free lunch for Central employees as they assessed the damage and cleaned up after that fire.

Dreamland recovered quickly after a kitchen fire in 2013 — the restaurant only closed for part of one day. Fire officials said at the time that they also had responded to fire alarms at Dreamland in 2012 and 2009.

A two-alarm fire Wednesday afternoon in the kitchen of Dreamland Bar-B-que in downtown Montgomery’s Alley development caused only light damage, despite sparking a dramatic jet of flame above the city’s skyline. The restaurant expects to reopen within a few days.

Wesley Dillard said he was eating near the kitchen at about 2:30 p.m. when “someone came running out to the table and said, ‘Everybody needs to get out of here immediately! The grill’s on fire!’”

No injuries were reported, and emergency officials said there was no impingement to the interior.

Dillard joined a crowd watching from across the street as all floors of the building were evacuated. A 10-foot jet of flame bellowed from the stack above the restaurant a few minutes later.

Fire officials said the sprinkler system activated. The flame above the restaurant disappeared about 2:40 p.m., and officials confirmed that the fire was under control before 3 p.m.

“I just hope there wasn’t too much damage,” Dillard said.

Dreamland ownership partner Bob Parker said the only damage was caused by the sprinklers. He said the ventilation system functioned properly, and the jet of flame was caused by the grease burning out. The restaurant hopes to reopen by Saturday.

In September, a kitchen fire at Central restaurant in the Alley forced the eatery to close for several days. Dreamland provided free lunch for Central employees as they assessed the damage and cleaned up after that fire.

Dreamland recovered quickly after a kitchen fire in 2013 — the restaurant only closed for part of one day. Fire officials said at the time that they also had responded to fire alarms at Dreamland in 2012 and 2009.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Wayland, MA – Sprinkler system helps keep restaurant fire from spreading

A Boston Post Road restaurant established in 1930 will be closed for at least a week after a kitchen fire on Saturday, authorities said.   “Unfortunately, all of the food in the restaurant has to be destroyed,” said Houghton. “It’s safe to say the restaurant will have to be closed for at least a week.”

The fire department went to the Coach Grill around 1:30 p.m. for a report of fire showing from the building. Upon arrival, the department called for a second alarm, with Weston and Sudbury Fire departments assisting at the scene. The Natick and Lincoln Fire departments covered the stations, the chief said.

The fire was traced to a refrigeration unit in the kitchen, the chief said. The restaurant’s sprinkler system activated. The restaurant, which serves dinner and Sunday brunch, was closed at the time of the fire. No one was injured.

“With it being closed, there were no cars in the parking lot, so we were able to use the parking lot for all of the apparatus,” Houghton said.

 

The cause of the fire is not known and being investigated by the state fire marshal’s office.

 

“It’s not suspicious by any means, but because it is such a significant dollar loss, we want to make sure to get the exact cause pinpointed,” Houghton said..

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Durham, NC – Fire in smoker at BBQ restaurant extinguished by sprinkler system

Durham firefighters were called to The Pit restaurant at 321 Geer Street Friday, but damage was minimal and the restaurant remained open Friday evening. Firefighters were dispatched to the restaurant at 11:33 a.m. and arrived to find smoke visible and that a fire had been extinguished by the sprinkler system in the rear pig cooker/smoker area. Food caught fire in the cooker/smoker and extended to the wall and ceiling when the door of the cooker/smoker was opened.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

O’Fallon, IL – Sprinkler system keeps dumpster fire from spreading into restaurant and brewery

The Peel Pizza will be closed for the next few days following a four alarm fire.  The fire happened on Sunday in a dumpster behind the restaurant.  Though the fire was contained to the dumpster, the sprinkler systems inside the restaurant were activated, causing water damage within. The fire was so intense that the dumpster melted.

Investigators are still searching for the cause of the fire, but no indication has been found that the fire was malicious or suspicious. The interior of the restaurant did not sustain any fire damage, but they will be closed for a few days while they clean up water damage

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.