“It was a grease fire in the kitchen,”

Fire damages local restaurant


Debbie Blank

Flames briefly could be seen shooting from the roof of the northern section of Cross County Plaza Monday, July 13, at about 1:45 p.m.

Eyewitness Nick Steele said he notified Subway employees, who called the Batesville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department.

Subway manager Sally Tallman said China Wok customers told her a blaze in the Chinese restaurant’s kitchen had spread to the roof. “It was a grease fire in the kitchen,” which China Wok’s manager extinguished before help arrived, confirmed Fire Chief Todd Schutte, who was there until 3:45 p.m.

Firefighters evacuated two China Wok workers and three Subway employees.

By 2 p.m., four fire trucks – only one near the scene – and two police cars had responded. No flames were visible to bystanders, who could barely see smoke drifting out China Wok’s front door as volunteers calmly entered and exited the building.

Nevertheless, the chief reported there was heavy smoke both in China Wok and Subway.

A China Wok worker was given oxygen at the scene after inhaling a fire extinguisher agent, but refused transport to the hospital. No one else was injured, Schutte said.

Volunteers remained for two hours to insure the fire was indeed totally out and also to use fans to remove smoke.

The chief called Franklin County sanitarian Joe Meier to the scene. Meier said due to smoke damage, some food items will have to be discarded. He will have to re-inspect the Chinese restaurant before it can be re-opened.

China Wok sustained damage estimated at between $5,000 and $10,000, according to Schutte – bad news for owner Eddie Dong, who is in China until August.