<p>Edgartown firefighters swiftly contained an upper-story fire at the Atlantic Restaurant at the foot of Main street Saturday morning. Deputy fire chief Alex Schaeffer was first on the scene along with Edgartown police officer Ryan Ruley.</p>
Edgartown firefighters swiftly contained an upper-story fire at the Atlantic Restaurant on Saturday morning at the start of the Fourth of July holiday.
Smoke pours from second story of Atlantic Restaurant building at foot of Main street.
Smoke pours from second story of Atlantic Restaurant building at foot of Main street.
Deputy fire chief Alex Schaeffer, who was first on the scene along with Edgartown police officer Ryan Ruley, told the Gazette that a fire in a kitchen exhaust fan was the cause.
Mr. Schaeffer said he and Mr. Ruley were walking past the Atlantic at the foot of Main street Saturday morning, on their way to do some maintenance on the town police boat in the harbor, when they heard the fire alarm. They went inside where the kitchen crew was getting ready for the day. An exhaust fan in a third floor kitchen “went up in flames” and fire had spread into the building, the deputy chief said. There were later reports of flames coming out of the back of the building. At about 9:30 a.m., smoke was seen pouring from the top floor of the building.
Mr. Schaeffer said there was a full response from Edgartown with mutual aid from Oak Bluffs.
Kitchen workers from Atlantic stood outside during fire. Restaurant will be closed for cleanup from fire.
Kitchen workers from Atlantic stood outside during fire. Restaurant will be closed for cleanup from fire.
“Anything in the downtown area, we know we’re going to need help,” he said.
Downtown Edgartown was cordoned off and closed to traffic; a large crowd of onlookers gathered as the firefighters did their work. A group of kitchen crew wearing their chef waits stood outside. Fire hoses snaked through the downtown streets.
Mr. Schaeffer praised the quick work by firefighters to contain the blaze. “The guys did an awesome job,” he said.
Town administrator Pamela Dolby, who was at the scene, said the restaurant will be closed for at least a few days while water is cleaned up. There was no immediate damage assessment.
The building houses the restaurant and a private club on the upper floors.
By late morning downtown streets were opened to traffic again.
Parade marshal Joseph E. Sollitto Jr. said the 5 p.m. parade would go an as scheduled.
Sara Brown and Mark Lovewell contributed reporting.
Comments
the alley between there and
HP Harborside Innthe alley between there and the Harborside Inn is always greasy - probably a grease fire in the kitchen fan
This is an important reminder
A Good ReminderThis is an important reminder to the restaurateurs on the island that safety comes first. I am in no way blaming the management of this business for the fire. We don't yet know what happened. However, my experience on this island is that the incredible labor shortage combined with very long hours in season sets the stage for many preventable accidents. Tougher laws were put into place in this state in 2009 after two firefighters in Boston were killed fighting a restaurant fire resulting from grease buildup in a restaurant hood. Besides cleaning by licensed professionals (ideally several times a year) you need a rock solid cleaning plan in place that is executed by your staff daily or at least weekly depending on volume. We all know that many of our restaurants are non compliant with labor laws, tax laws and the like. There is almost a perverse pride taken by these operators in beating the system. That appears to be coming to an end based on recent lawsuits in the works here. But even if you do decide to play fast and loose with those laws, this is a whole different matter. It is life and death. Owners, if your average fast food place in America can have a bathroom cleaning schedule with initials by the cleaner confirming adherence, I would think your chefs could create a regular hood cleaning schedule, initialed by employees, supervised by a sous chef or the chef. If not, you really have no business in this game.
Is that your answer to
Ken Edg.Is that your answer to everything? more laws? How about just inspecting and showing the operator ways of cleaning the system and making it more efficient.
I did not suggest new laws.
A Good ReminderI did not suggest new laws. The only laws I mentioned are already in place. They were created when the state decided enough was enough. After two firefighters died because restaurant owners didn't clean their hoods. What I am suggesting is that our local restaurants both follow the law and take it upon themselves to also follow basic industry guidelines for safety. This island operates in a vacuum. We cannot possibly count on government to solve our problems. Our business leaders need to understand that these things happen when they are careless about safety.
Great job by the Edgartown
Ken Esq EdgartownGreat job by the Edgartown Fire Department! We're lucky to have people that are willing to run towards and into a burning building. Thank you!
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