[Press Release] : Press Release - Structure Fire

[Press Releases]

Contact:

Battalion Chief Steven Sapp
573-499-7335 Media Pager (Please leave call back number, please do not
leave a voice message)

Late Evening Fire Causes Minor Damage to Restaurant

(Columbia, MO) The Columbia Fire Department responded to a report of a
structure fire at Denny's restaurant, 1100 Knipp Street, at 9:21 PM on
Tuesday, August 24, 2010. 

Arriving units reported light smoke inside of the building and building
evacuation completed. A small smoldering fire was found on the exterior
wall of the south side of the building. The fire was quickly
extinguished and fire fighters tore away a small section of the exterior
wall material to ensure fire had not spread to the inside of the
building. 

Fire investigators determined that the origin of the fire was at a
corner of the building on the south side. The cause of the fire is
likely discarded smoking materials igniting the mulch against the
building. Damage is estimated at less then $5,000.00. 

Fire investigators were told by restaurant managers that a person was
seen smoking in the area where the fire occurred. When smoke became
visible, an employee and a customer each obtained a portable fire
extinguisher from inside of the building and the customer used a fire
extinguisher to extinguish most of the fire. The building was evacuated
as a precaution and there were no reported injuries. 

The restaurant will be required to close while cleaning takes place as
smoke was in the building. The restaurant is expected to reopen on
Wednesday morning. 

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