Category Archives: Restaurant

Vallejo, CA – Sprinklers help limit damage in early morning restaurant fire

Vallejo’s Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill will be closed for a week or more after suffering damage from a fire early Sunday that was still under investigation Monday, Vallejo Fire Department officials said.

Firefighters responded to a reported structure fire at the Plaza Drive restaurant at about 5:22 a.m. Sunday and arrived to find the sprinkler system activated, Fire Prevention Manager Vince Sproete said.

“The sprinklers kept the fire contained until crews arrived” and extinguished the small blaze that remained, he said. Fire damage was minimal and water damage, moderate, he said.

All the surrounding establishments — Kaiperm Federal Credit Union, GameStop and Cold Stone Creamery — remain open for business, Sproete said.

The fire’s cause is officially undetermined at this time, and Fire Department officials are working with the Vallejo Police Department on the ongoing investigation, he said.

Santa Rosa, CA – Restaurant blaze put out with help from sprinkler system

Firefighters responded to a report of a water flow alarm activated at Red Bee BQQ at 750 Stony Point Road near Sebastopol Road around 12:15 p.m., Santa Rosa fire Battalion Chief Ken Sabastiani said. Fire crews arrived to find water coming from the front door and determined a small oven fire triggered a sprinkler head to turn on, Sabastiani said. The sprinkler system was properly functioning and helped put out the blaze, he said. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Addison, IL – Sprinkler extinguishes fire in restaurant bar area

*** NO MEDIA COVERAGE – Fire Department Reported ***

Addison FD narrative of restaurant fire at 32 E. Lake St“Called to the scene for the activated fire alarm. On arrival, we had nothing showing but did have audible alarm with strobes. We accessed the key box to gain entry into the units. When we gained entry into the restaurant, we found light smoke and a sprinkler activation. We had a small fire behind the bar area that activated the sprinkler head and put out the fire. Fire was located on top of the service area of the bar specifically located in a glassware bin. The plastic bin was burned 1/2 away with burn patterns up the back shelf. Sprinkler had it out before fire caused more damage. Building value of $200,000. Content value of $20,000. Total estimated damage $5,000.”

 

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.

 

San Antonio, TX – Restaurant fire in mixed-use residential building suppressed by sprinkler system

San Antonio fire officials responded to the fire just after 2 a.m. at the Saltgrass Steakhouse on River Street near E. Crockett and N. Presa streets. The restaurant’s sprinkler system kept the fire contained and damage was limited to the kitchen. 

Firefighters said the flames started in the river level kitchen at the restaurant and appeared to be electrical in nature.  About 25 residents from about 15 apartments above the restaurant were evacuated due to smoke, but later allowed to go back inside. No injuries were reported.

Mankato, MN – Sprinkler system activates to help control lunch-time restaurant fire

Investigators have determined the cause of Wednesday’s fire at Asiana Buffet in Mankato. Fire officials say the fire originated in a wok in the kitchen. The fire then spread to the restaurants ceiling. The fire started over the noon hour and officials say firefighters were notified of the fire by a sprinkler alarm. When firefighters arrived, lunch-hour diners and staff were still in the restaurant, most unaware that a fire was spreading in the ceiling and rafters. Staff was apparently trying to fight the fire and it eventually triggered a sprinkler system that alerted the fire department. Damages are estimated at $1.75 million.There were no injuries.

Las Vegas, NV – Sprinkler system douses overnight fire at downtown bar

An automatic sprinkler helped prevent an overnight fire from spreading at a downtown bar, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue officials said. Fire dispatchers were notified at 3:16 a.m. today that the water-flow alarm for the fire sprinkler system activated at Backstage Bar & Billiards, 601 Fremont St., fire department spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

Firefighters forced their way into the three-story building and found clothing and other items too close to a water heater had caught fire, he said. The sprinkler had already doused the fire, he said. Damage was estimated at $5,000, but the blaze could have done substantial damage without the sprinkler system, Szymanski said.

Santee, SC – Sprinkler system activates; Helps limit damage in fire at landmark restaurant

A landmark barbecue restaurant in Santee that was damaged by fire on Thursday is scheduled to reopen soon.  The Santee Fire Department was called to Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile on State Park Road just after 9 a.m. Firefighters say a sprinkler system in the kitchen sprayed the flames until emergency crews arrived.

Fire Chief Edward Barnett, Jr. says the fire started in a smoke chipper drain under a meat oven.  The amount of damage hasn’t been estimated.  The restaurant is closed temporarily. A sign outside indicates management hopes to reopen on March 19.

Chelsea, MA – Sprinklers help contain late night restaurant fire

On Saturday, March 7, at 12:06 a.m., the fire department responded to the report of a building fire at 17 Fifth St., above the Isla Tropical Restaurant. Crews reported the sprinkler system had activated on the second floor and located the fire inside one of the residential units. Items left on top of the stove ignited and the flames quickly spread to the cabinets above. Crews extinguished the fire and remained on scene checking for extension until approximately 3:30 a.m. Damage is estimated at $30,000. No occupants were injured.

Pearland, TX – Commercial kitchen fire extinguished by sprinkler system

** NO MEDIA COVERAGE – Fire Dept Reported **  The Pearland Fire Department responded to a report of a grease fire in a commercial kitchen at an area restaurant located in the 2800 block of Business Center Dr. on Tuesday, March 10. After arriving, fire department officials discovered that the fire had been extinguished by the fire sprinkler system installed in the building.

Because the fire sprinkler system installed at the restaurant worked as it was designed, no property damage or loss of life occurred during this incident. According to National Fire Prevention Association, cooking fires make up approximately 55 percent of the fires that occur in restaurants and are responsible for 59 percent of the civilian deaths related to restaurant fires. The fires can cause the secondary ignition of grease that has accumulated on the vent hood from grease-laden vapors that are produced normally during the operation of the kitchen.

These fires can travel through the kitchen ductwork and result in a devastating fire that, depending on the amount of fuel present, can be greater in intensity and particularly difficult for firefighters to extinguish.