2/7/2011
UPDATE: As of about 4:30 p.m., Walnut Creek police say they had cleared Locust Street and streets surrounding Plaza Escuela, which had been closed off while firefighters put out a two-alarm blaze that broke out at the Buckhorn Grill Monday afternoon.
Employees and customers safely left the restaurant when the blaze began about 2:15 p.m. A grease fire flared up while chefs were cooking tri-tips and other meat on the grill, said Buckhorn Grill manager Paul Punsalang.
The flames shot up toward a hood over the cooking area and began to melt material on the roof, said a woman, who had just sat down to order a hamburger.
As the smoke began to pour from the blaze, the woman said, "I saw I wasn't going to get my burger."
Punsalang said the restaurant immediately evacuated its 10 employees and five customers. He added the sprinkler system activated. Firefighters also arrived quickly.
No injuries were reported in the fire.
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Marshal Lewis Broschard said that an alarm company notified the fire district about the blaze immediately.
At about 3 p.m. the fire went to two alarms because there were still small flames burning in vertical ducts that provide the restaurant's ventilation and cooling systems. He expected those flames to be extinguished within the hour.
The entire block of Locust Street that runs through Plaza Escuela was shut down, and at least one nearby business, the Verizon store, was closed. But others remained opened, including Tilly's clothing store, the Cheesecake Factory and Starbucks across the street.
UPDATE: As of about 4:30 p.m., Walnut Creek police say they had cleared Locust Street and streets surrounding Plaza Escuela, which had been closed off while firefighters put out a two-alarm blaze that broke out at the Buckhorn Grill Monday afternoon.
Employees and customers safely left the restaurant when the blaze began about 2:15 p.m. A grease fire flared up while chefs were cooking tri-tips and other meat on the grill, said Buckhorn Grill manager Paul Punsalang.
The flames shot up toward a hood over the cooking area and began to melt material on the roof, said a woman, who had just sat down to order a hamburger.
As the smoke began to pour from the blaze, the woman said, "I saw I wasn't going to get my burger."
Punsalang said the restaurant immediately evacuated its 10 employees and five customers. He added the sprinkler system activated. Firefighters also arrived quickly.
No injuries were reported in the fire.
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Marshal Lewis Broschard said that an alarm company notified the fire district about the blaze immediately.
At about 3 p.m. the fire went to two alarms because there were still small flames burning in vertical ducts that provide the restaurant's ventilation and cooling systems. He expected those flames to be extinguished within the hour.
The entire block of Locust Street that runs through Plaza Escuela was shut down, and at least one nearby business, the Verizon store, was closed. But others remained opened, including Tilly's clothing store, the Cheesecake Factory and Starbucks across the street.
