An early-morning kitchen fire at the South Locust Amigos/Kings Classic restaurant was minutes from burning the entire building down when fire crews arrived on Wednesday.
The Grand Island Fire Department responded at 6:32 a.m., Division Chief Tim Hiemer said.
The fire originated in the deep-fat fryers in the kitchen and extended into the hood system and, eventually, into the roof, he said.
Mayer said the fire started after an employee replaced grease in the fryer and turned the fryer on while doing other maintenance in the kitchen. The employee noticed the flare-up, was unable to put the fire out and called for help, Mayer said.
Both Mayer and Hiemer said the employee made it safely out of the building. No one was injured due to the fire.
The blaze may have started because of spilled grease, but Mayer was unable to pinpoint the exact cause.
He said the damage was "very extensive" in the kitchen area and there was heavy soot and smoke damage throughout the restaurant.
Mayer said firefighters used a combination of water and a foam made to extinguish flammable liquids to put out the flames.
"We don't have a real good grasp on the damage amount, but we ball-parked it to be $75,000 to $100,000," he said. "The kitchen was a total loss."
The first captain on the scene reported seeing flames from the roof vent. Heavy black smoke was also visible, Hiemer said.
The fire was out by 6:52 a.m., but firefighters remained on the scene until approximately 9:15. During the fire, the southbound lanes of South Locust were blocked off so hoses could be stretched along the road, he said.
The Amigos building, at 2504 S. Locust St., sits right along the roadway.
According to Mapsifter, both the South Locust restaurant and the one at 2325 N. Webb Road are owned by Kershner Properties in Kearney.
The Amigos website states that the restaurant chain started in Lincoln in June 1980 and has grown to 30 sites. In 2003, the Kings Classic business was added and, most recently, a breakfast menu was made available at several of the locations.
In 2006, Kevin Kershner, who has been with the business for more than 20 years, became the first franchisee with his ownership of six restaurants, according to the Amigos website.
Firefighters from all four stations responded to the fire, and a recall was issued for additional personnel, Mayer said.
Wednesday morning's fire was the second time in less than 24 hours that a structure fire required a recall. All four stations responded to an apartment fire Tuesday afternoon at the Colonial Square Apartments at 15th and Vine streets. That fire was started by a malfunctioning clothes dryer.
Cleaning Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Systems Since 1971
5734 Bankfield Avenue
Culver City, California 90230
310-636-8361 x 203
Grant Mogford
The Grand Island Fire Department responded at 6:32 a.m., Division Chief Tim Hiemer said.
The fire originated in the deep-fat fryers in the kitchen and extended into the hood system and, eventually, into the roof, he said.
Mayer said the fire started after an employee replaced grease in the fryer and turned the fryer on while doing other maintenance in the kitchen. The employee noticed the flare-up, was unable to put the fire out and called for help, Mayer said.
Both Mayer and Hiemer said the employee made it safely out of the building. No one was injured due to the fire.
The blaze may have started because of spilled grease, but Mayer was unable to pinpoint the exact cause.
He said the damage was "very extensive" in the kitchen area and there was heavy soot and smoke damage throughout the restaurant.
Mayer said firefighters used a combination of water and a foam made to extinguish flammable liquids to put out the flames.
"We don't have a real good grasp on the damage amount, but we ball-parked it to be $75,000 to $100,000," he said. "The kitchen was a total loss."
The first captain on the scene reported seeing flames from the roof vent. Heavy black smoke was also visible, Hiemer said.
The fire was out by 6:52 a.m., but firefighters remained on the scene until approximately 9:15. During the fire, the southbound lanes of South Locust were blocked off so hoses could be stretched along the road, he said.
The Amigos building, at 2504 S. Locust St., sits right along the roadway.
According to Mapsifter, both the South Locust restaurant and the one at 2325 N. Webb Road are owned by Kershner Properties in Kearney.
The Amigos website states that the restaurant chain started in Lincoln in June 1980 and has grown to 30 sites. In 2003, the Kings Classic business was added and, most recently, a breakfast menu was made available at several of the locations.
In 2006, Kevin Kershner, who has been with the business for more than 20 years, became the first franchisee with his ownership of six restaurants, according to the Amigos website.
Firefighters from all four stations responded to the fire, and a recall was issued for additional personnel, Mayer said.
Wednesday morning's fire was the second time in less than 24 hours that a structure fire required a recall. All four stations responded to an apartment fire Tuesday afternoon at the Colonial Square Apartments at 15th and Vine streets. That fire was started by a malfunctioning clothes dryer.
Cleaning Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Systems Since 1971
5734 Bankfield Avenue
Culver City, California 90230
310-636-8361 x 203
Grant Mogford
