Tag Archives: Fires

by | September 22, 2013 · 6:20 am

Hospitality Industry Employee Crime: New York Hotel Security Director Arrested For Arson After Setting A Series Of Small Fires In Hallways And Stairwells; “Working Vacation” While Hotel Was Shut Down For Repairs

“…(the suspect) was the director of security — and according to his  wife the fire safety director —- for the Yotel hotel near Times Square (and) Hospitality Industry Employee Crimeset a series of blazes that shut down the building for days, freeing him to get  liquored up on the job in guest rooms, FDNY sources said…(he) would light newspapers to set the rubbish fires late  at night or early in the morning while he was on duty…No one was injured in the  blazes, but the source said the small fires would also temporarily close the bars and  nightclubs inside…the hotel would then be  shut down for repairs, giving him a working vacation…”

City fire marshals arrested Barbosa, of West New York, N.J., on Friday,  charging him with setting five small rubbish blazes in the hallways, stairwells  and emergency exits at the Yotel on 10th Ave. over the past two years.

Before that, he allegedly set three fires at the Soho Grand Hotel on West  Broadway — where he worked as a security guard between 2009 and 2010 — including  one just before 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day that brought revelers’ celebrations to  an early close.

Wearing a dark navy suit and a white dress shirt, Barbosa was ordered held on  $50,000 bail. Manhattan prosecutors asked for $20,000, but the arraignment judge  upped the request.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/times-square-hotel-security-chief-arrested-setting-arson-fires-sources-article-1.1463370#ixzz2fdA5nlYl

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by | August 19, 2013 · 5:55 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: California Restaurant Fire Caused By Electrical Short In Ice Maker; Over $75,000 In Damage To Structure, Contents And Loss Of Business

“…An electrical short in an ice maker caused the fire…the restaurant’s sprinkler system did go on, but not right away..Damage to the structure and contents is Restaurant Fire Risksestimated to be about $75,000 and loss of business about $10,000, fire officials said…”

A fire at Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant in Mission Valley was swiftly knocked down Sunday afternoon by an engine company that happened to be in the restaurant parking lot dousing a car fire, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department reported. About 1:15 p.m., the restaurant manager hailed the fire crew in the parking lot at Mission Center Road near Camino de la Reina. Firefighters found waist-high smoke and flames in the kitchen, said San Diego fire department spokesman Maurice Luque.

About 200 diners and Gordon Biersch staff were evacuated and no injuries were reported, Luque said. The restaurant was closed for business for the rest of the day.

Per procedure, the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health was notified and will inspect the restaurant to determine when it is safe to reopen for business, Luque said.

For more:  http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/aug/18/gordon-biersch-fire-icemaker/

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by | August 9, 2013 · 6:32 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Washington Restaurant Destroyed By Fire Caused By Cleaning Towels Left In Dryer “Spontaneously Combusting”

Restaurant Cleaning Towel Combustion Fires“…It was the second restaurant fire in Olympia in two years caused by towels in the dryer, and the fifth in five years to other businesses including hair salons…the cleaning towels that were left inside the dryer smolder for hours and then spontaneously combust.  The greases and oils used in the cleaning process apparently don’t all get washed out…”

Investigators have determined a fire that destroyed the Oyster House restaurant in Olympia started in the dryer, when cleaning towels spontaneously combusted. Now, they’re sending out a warning to all restaurants, hair salons, and even bowling alleys where towels are used to clean things and then washed and tossed in the dryer.

Olympia fire investigator Brian Schenk gave KOMO News a close look at the dryer where the Oyster House fire started. “I see a very distinct burn pattern here that shows me the fire came from the inside out,” Schenk said. “It just looks like it’s towels.”

The restaurant manager said the night of the fire that they used the dryer just before closing.

“And so when they get thrown in the dryer and left, they’ll continue to spontaneously heat even after the dryer cycle has stopped and people have all left,” said Assistant Chief Robert Bradley, the Olympia fire marshal.

For more:  http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Spontaneous-combustion-deemed-cause-of-Olympia-restaurant-fire-218925741.html?tab=video&c=y

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by | June 9, 2013 · 6:35 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Ohio Restaurant Fire Starts In “Kitchen Fryer” And Heavily Damages Structure; “Advanced Fire In Building’s Center” Limits Firefighters To Defensive Action

“….an employee saw smoke at a fryer as he was walking through the kitchen, preparing to make a Restaurant Fire Risksdelivery…he and the two other employees cut off power to the fryer and tried to use a fire extinguisher “but it only got worse…(there was no) way of getting it stopped…”

A fire Friday afternoon that heavily damaged a popular Irish pub and restaurant, as well as a catering business, started in a kitchen fryer. That’s the preliminary assessment from Springfield Fire Rescue Division Chief Nick Heimlich, who kept firefighters on the scene at McMurray’s Irish Pub, Paddy’s Backdoor Pizza and Carmae Catering, all housed at 122 E. College Ave., on Friday night.

Heimlich said firefighters found “an advanced fire” in the center of the structure and noted that the progression of the fire was very rapid. Because the three businesses are connected and under one roof “a problem in one pretty quickly becomes a problem in the others,” the chief said.

When the decision was made to pull back and take a defensive posture in battling the flames because crews weren’t making the kind of progress they wanted in putting out the fire, Heimlich said, “basically that means for the most part the structure is a loss.”

For more:  http://www.whiotv.com/news/news/local/mcmurrays-popular-springfield-pub-is-on-fire/nYFfP/

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by | May 29, 2013 · 6:25 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Michigan Restaurant “Electrical Fire” Spreads Throughout Ceiling Area, Causing $400,000 In Damage

“…the fire started above the ceiling, in the attic space, (where) there is some wiring in that immediate area…one of the employees could hear some crackling above the ceiling…the fire began in an area right above Restaurant Firethe entrance to the restaurant. Firefighters had to break into the ceiling of the 5,500-square-foot restaurant to put out the blaze…”

Investigators say an electrical fire caused about $400,000 in damage to a popular Clinton Township restaurant Tuesday night. The fire broke out at J. Baldwin’s Restaurant & To-Go location at 16981 Eighteen Mile Road at about 9:54 p.m., Clinton Township Fire Chief Jack Shea said today.

The main fire was under control in 20 minutes, but it took another couple of hours to put out small fires that had extended elsewhere in the building, Shea said. Firefighters cleared the scene at around 12:30 p.m.

The restaurant is open until 10 p.m. on Tuesdays, according to the company’s website. Shea said there were people at the establishment, but it was about to close. No one was injured in the blaze.

For more:  http://www.freep.com/article/20130529/NEWS04/305290076/j-baldwins-fire-restaurant-clinton

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by | May 19, 2013 · 7:27 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Ohio Restaurant Fire Caused By “Outside Propane Smoker Being Too Close To Wall”; Building A “Complete Loss” Estimated At $300,000

“…the fire chief (stated that) a restaurant cook was outside smoking prime rib when a propane fire got too close to the building…The building was Restaurant Firebuilt to code (but) it’s just the nature of the beast…they had a lot of fire moving fast, and it was hard to get to because it was under the roof, and the roof keeps water out like it is supposed to…firefighters said the building is a complete loss, about $300,000…”

A fire in North Ridgeville destroyed a local restaurant Saturday. It happened around 3 p.m. at the Black Dog Pub and Eatery on Sugar Ridge Road. Because of the disaster, the building couldn’t be saved. Crews had to demolish it. Crews with the North Ridgeville Fire Department said it was an accidental fire.

The owner of the restaurant, who didn’t want to be identified, was heartbroken as she looked on while several different agencies sprayed down the building.

“She just put a lot of money into the floors. She just remodeled the place you know. She was doing really good on business. Everything was going great,” said Xevier Neider, who was a chef at Black Dog. “It’s sad that she did a lot here, for it to just go up like that.”

For more:  http://fox8.com/2013/05/18/local-restaurant-catches-fire-with-patrons-inside/

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by | April 28, 2013 · 3:29 pm

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Texas Restaurant Is A “Total Loss” After Kitchen Fire Destroys Building; “Old Structure” Was Not Insured

“…No one was injured but the Yum Yums building was a total loss…it was not insured. Fire officials believe the fire sparked in Restaurant Firethe restaurant’s kitchen downstairs, but the exact cause is unknown. The structure is unsafe for fire investigators to go inside, so the department will not be able to determine an exact cause…”

Three people were uninjured following an early morning fire at a downtown Jacksonville restaurant Sunday. At 12:12 a.m., a man who lived in an apartment above Yum Yums Restaurant and Bakery, in the 200 block of South Main Street, woke up to an explosion sound and ran downstairs, said Jacksonville Fire Chief Paul White.

The structure fire was located about a block from the fire station, and firefighters arrived on scene at 12:13 a.m., White said. There was fire at the back of the building and heavy smoke in the front when firefighters arrived, he said. Flames were soon shooting from the roof and out windows.

The fire quickly consumed the old structure, making it unsafe for crews to be the inside the building. Five ladder trucks from numerous departments were on scene to help, White said.

“It was a big fire, and the ladder trucks saved the day,” White said. “It as too dangerous to go inside so it was basically a defensive fire. (firefighters) basically put a lot of water on it.”

For more:  http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20130428/NEWS01/130429754

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by | April 8, 2013 · 6:27 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: New Jersey Restaurant Fire Caused By “Discarded Cigarette” In Flowerbed; Damage To Exterior Walls And Walk-In Refrigerator Forces Closure

“…a lit cigarette discarded in the mulch of a flowerbed outside the building caused the fire…the fire caught hold of Styrofoam, which was used as Restaurant Firebacking for part of the building’s exterior, travelled up the wall, and moved to the wood beams in the ceiling and window openings…The restaurant has been closed until proper repairs can be made and inspected by town officials…”

A discarded cigarette started a fire that has closed Fuddruckers restaurant, authorities said. Firefighters found heavy smoke inside a walk-in refrigerator and a “moderate” fire inside walls and the ceiling of the building Sunday at about 4 p.m., said Steven Toth, fire commissioner.

Fire crews had to open interior and exterior walls to battle the blaze, Toth said. All “visible flames” were knocked down 30 minutes after firefighters arrived on scene.

For more:  http://wayne.patch.com/articles/discarded-cigarette-causes-fire-that-closes-fuddruckers

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by | March 21, 2013 · 6:05 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Michigan Restaurant A “Total Loss” After Fire In “Deep Fryer” Spreads Quickly Into Ceiling And Roof

“…the restaurant is a total loss and smoke enveloped the entire intersection where the Restaurant Firerestaurant is located….the fire had spread quickly to the wooden trusses that supported the roof, up above a suspended ceiling…causing the roof to collapse…”

Fire investigators have determined that a fire that destroyed the Ram’s Horn on Tuesday originated in a deep fryer in the restaurant’s kitchen. The fire spread quickly during the lunch hour. Staff and patrons were evacuated and fire crews responded at about 12:12 p.m.

No one was injured in the blaze, which took several hours to extinguish. Middlebelt between Seven and Eight Mile roads remained closed throughout the afternoon as firefighters extended hoses from several fire hydrants to battle the blaze.

When fire crews encountered the heavy smoke and heat and knew that customers and restaurant staff were out of the building, firefighters were moved outside of the restaurant, which occurred within 15 minutes, Whitehead said.

The roof collapsed while firefighters were outside fighting the fire. “It had a pretty good start,” Whitehead said.

For more:  http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20130321/NEWS10/303210566/Fire-gutted-Livonia-Ram-s-Horn-started-deep-fryer

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by | March 16, 2013 · 6:42 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Illinois Restaurant Fire Starts In Basement Water Heater; Significant Water And Smoke Damage

“…most of the damage happened in the basement at their Bucktown flagship…service will be halted there and Restaurant Fire in Chicago. NBC Chicago Facebooktheir Chicago French Market satellite…the main dining room in Bucktown sustained smoke damage…”

A fire that broke out in the basement of Lillie’s Q barbecue restaurant in the Bucktown neighborhood late Thursday night destroyed the restaurant and left a firefighter with minor injuries, officials said. The fire at 11:40 p.m. at the restaurant at 1856 W. North Avenue, officials said. Fire officials said the fire rekindled later at about 4:18 a.m.

Firefighters told restaurant officials that the fire likely started in a water heater in the basement, and not one of the smokers. There were also apartments above the restaurant.Chicago Police closed North Avenue in both directions near Wood Street while firefighters worked to contain the fire. After the fire rekindled at 4:18 a.m. firefighters returned to the restaurant and a firefighter sustained minor injuries at that point.

For more:  http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-03-15/news/chi-firefighters-battle-blaze-at-lillies-q-restaurant-in-bucktown-20130314_1_scorches-restaurant-spokesman-fire-officials

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