Fire erupted at a local eatery near downtown Carrollton this afternoon. Located on the corner of South and Maple Street, diners at 302 South Street and shoppers at neighboring Cheers liquor store noticed that the unconnected building behind the restaurant was enveloped in flames.
“Approximately at 12 o’clock right during the lunch hour, the total outside of the building and the interior of the building were on fire. The response time would be within three to four minutes and the fire department was here. A quick extinguishment to the exterior of the building. No injuries were reported at the time. No damage to the 302 restaurant side. This building that they used for office and dry storage, heavy damage to that,” said Lt. Bill Lambert, a fire investigator with the Carrollton Fire Department.
The structure’s exterior suffered heavy damage and the extent of the damage inside the building has not yet been determined. Several vehicles parked around the building were also damaged.
The fire remains under investigation but likely will be ruled accidental. According to 302 South Street owner, Jake Skelton, the blaze could have been started by their smoker and with the alleged dryness and low kindling temperature any small spark could have started a blaze.
Skelton assured customers that, while this is a definite setback, the restaurant will still be ready to serve customers.
“We won’t have the point of sales, so we will be doing hand written tickets. We will be able to take cards but you will have to be patient,” said Skelton. “We will be out of our element a little bit but we should be ready to rock and roll.”
Skelton said he was relieved that no one was harmed and that the fire department was so rapid in their response.
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