Category Archives: Restaurant

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Tallahassee, FL – Restaurant fire caused by malfunctioning burner halted by sprinkler system

A popular Midtown restaurant is closed as a result of a fire.

The Front Porch opened its Thomasville Road location in early 2013. The restaurant, known for its locally-sourced seafood dishes in an upscale atmosphere, posted a Facebook message to its customers on Monday morning.

“We are very sad to announce that our beautiful restaurant suffered a small fire last week and we will be temporarily closed until further notice. Please continue to check back, as our Facebook page will be updated when we have a re-opening day in sight. We appreciate your loyal patronage and can’t wait to serve you all again soon!”

Restaurant owners could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

The Tallahassee Fire Department arrived at 8:52 p.m. May 30 in response to a fire, the incident report states. Investigators estimate damages at $35,000. No one was injured during the fire and the building was already evacuated by the time firefighters arrived.

The internal sprinkler system went off as a result of a malfunctioning Butane burner, according to employee statements in the report.

“The burning fuel from the burner was enough heat to activate the sprinkler head directly above it,” the report said. Investigators believe the fire was caused by a leak in the burner’s gas bottle.

The report stated no actual fire damage to the building, and all content and structure damage was caused by the water from the sprinkler system.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Winnipeg, BC, Canada – Nightclub fire controlled with help from sprinkler system; No injuries

A fire at a downtown bar shut down band rehearsals Thursday night. Multiple crews and a ladder truck were in front of the Main Street bar around 10 p.m. The popular spot was not hosting a bar night, but there were bands practicing in the upstairs recording spaces when the fire broke out. Gerry Suzuki was upstairs when he smelled smoke.

“We thought it was an amp or something on fire so we investigated. We went upstairs and we went downstairs and we saw flames on the first floor on Whiskey Dix. It was at least six feet high and looked like six feet wide. It looked like the middle of the floor was on fire.” said Suzuki.

District Chief Ted Humphreys said crews were quick to get the fire under control. “It was a fire that started in the back part of the building here on the main floor. About 90% was knocked down by the sprinkler system,” he said. Humphreys said everyone got out safely. There is no word on what started the fire, or how much damage it caused.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Novato, CA – Single sprinkler prevents fire from spreading at restaurant

An automatic sprinkler located above a dumpster next to a restaurant put out a fire Wednesday that could have spread to the restaurant, according to the Novato Fire District.

Firefighters responded at about 10:30 p.m. to the fire in the dumpster in the 100 block of Vintage Way and verified that the fire was out.

“This is a great example of how automatic fire sprinklers protect property, and keep businesses open,” Novato Battalion Chief, Fire Marshal Bill Tyler said in a statement. “If there was no fire sprinkler present, we could have had a large structure fire.”

Crews replaced the sprinkler head and restored the automatic sprinkler system to its regular operating condition.

Restaurant employees had discarded mesquite and hot coals into the dumpster, igniting the paper and cardboard inside. The sprinkler that put out the fire is on a wood trellis above the dumpster.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Paia, HI – Firefighters credit sprinkler system in controlling restaurant blaze

Maui fire officials credit fire sprinklers for keeping a fire from spreading at a year-old Paia restaurant last Friday. At 11:11 a.m., firefighters responded to a reported structure fire at the Rock & Brews restaurant, at 120 Hana Highway.

Firefighters were on scene two minutes later and saw light smoke coming from the restaurant, according to fire officials. Employees reported hearing a loud pop then saw smoke in the air, and workers and patrons were evacuated.

Investigation found that the fire sprinklers had been activated in the attic space above the restaurant. Fire crews quickly entered the ceiling area and had the fire extinguished by 11:27 p.m, officials said.

Fire Capt., Ben Bland, said “It’s a true testament that fire sprinklers really do work and can make a difference to extinguish or slow a fire until fire department arrival. Fire sprinklers effectively prevented this fire from spreading throughout the attic and to the rest of the building.”

The fire was determined to be accidental and caused by a fault in electrical wiring. Damages were estimated at $10,000 to structure, $10,000 to contents. No injuries were reported.

Hotel / Restaurant, 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.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

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.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

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.”

 

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.

 

Apartment Building, Restaurant

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.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

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.