American Table Fire Blamed On Aprons, Rags
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Spontaneous combustion of aprons and rags in a utility room was the cause for the fire that damaged the American Table Restaurant Monday morning.
Warsaw Fire Department Inspector Michael Wilson said Wednesday that about a week's worth of aprons and rags, some of which contained grease, were in a basket in the utility room on the back side of the restaurant. That source, where the terry cloth and cotton fibers are believed to have spontaneously combusted, was determined as the origin of the fire.
Wilson said that the fire spread up the wall and was found by employees within five minutes of starting. An attempt was made to put the fire out, but it started to get out of control and the fire department was summoned. Wilson said that the fire was extinguished within eight minutes of arrival by WFD crews and the rest of the time was spent airing out the building and looking for hot spots. Winona Lake Fire Department assisted at the scene.
Information regarding the cleanup process and expected date for reopening were not available from the American Table this morning. Fire officials estimate damage to be at least $175,000. [[In-content Ad]]
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Spontaneous combustion of aprons and rags in a utility room was the cause for the fire that damaged the American Table Restaurant Monday morning.
Warsaw Fire Department Inspector Michael Wilson said Wednesday that about a week's worth of aprons and rags, some of which contained grease, were in a basket in the utility room on the back side of the restaurant. That source, where the terry cloth and cotton fibers are believed to have spontaneously combusted, was determined as the origin of the fire.
Wilson said that the fire spread up the wall and was found by employees within five minutes of starting. An attempt was made to put the fire out, but it started to get out of control and the fire department was summoned. Wilson said that the fire was extinguished within eight minutes of arrival by WFD crews and the rest of the time was spent airing out the building and looking for hot spots. Winona Lake Fire Department assisted at the scene.
Information regarding the cleanup process and expected date for reopening were not available from the American Table this morning. Fire officials estimate damage to be at least $175,000. [[In-content Ad]]