Jan 5, 2012
SONOMA VALLEY
Maya restaurant expects to be closed for an indeterminate time after a one-alarm, multi-engine fire in a kitchen flue Monday afternoon.
There were about 20 patrons and seven staff in the restaurant at the corner of First Street East and East Napa Street when the fire broke out shortly after 2 p.m.
Denny Lane, one of the owners, said the fire occurred right after the lunch rush. "We heard something in the flue pop," he said. "We were looking at the grill when somebody ran in and said, 'Your roof is on fire ... I just called 9-1-1.'"
The first engine units responded at about 2:15 and were on the scene until about 4 p.m.
"The fire department was there quickly," Lane said. "They got up on the roof and poured water down the flue."
The popular Mexican restaurant is located in the bottom floor of the historic Boccoli Building, erected in 1896. Tenants in the second floor include the Sonoma International Film Festival, which suffered no damage. Firefighters did have to chop about a 6-foot-by-2-foot hole in the roof to make sure the fire hadn't extended into the roof area.
Smoke from the fire could be seen gusting out of the top of the building as a hook and ladder truck from the Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Authority raised a ladder to the roof of the restaurant to attack the fire from above.
Firefighters also entered the kitchen area to spray water up the kitchen flue, but the flames inside the vertical, metal column could not be extinguished from below.
On the roof, firefighters cut the hole near the flue and flooded the fire with a hose from above.
No cause was immediately known, but flue fires are a relatively common restaurant phenomenon, usually the product of accumulated grease and cooking debris.
Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue responded with three engines, a ladder truck and two ALS ambulances.
Division Chief John Franceschi said there was some damage to the second floor office area and estimated damages at around $40,000. "It went out fast, Franceschi said. "There was minimal damage to the building."
Police cars blocked traffic on East Napa and First Street East below Napa.
There was no report of any injuries and employees of Maya and adjoining offices were able to evacuate the building without incident.
Lane said friends and other restaurateurs have been great. "Some have offered their kitchens if we needed it," he said.
Looking back, he said it could have been worse. "We didn't have any injuries ... we had few diners ... if this would have happened at night, it would have been more extensive."
"This is a heck of a way to start a new year," he added
SONOMA VALLEY
Maya restaurant expects to be closed for an indeterminate time after a one-alarm, multi-engine fire in a kitchen flue Monday afternoon.
There were about 20 patrons and seven staff in the restaurant at the corner of First Street East and East Napa Street when the fire broke out shortly after 2 p.m.
Denny Lane, one of the owners, said the fire occurred right after the lunch rush. "We heard something in the flue pop," he said. "We were looking at the grill when somebody ran in and said, 'Your roof is on fire ... I just called 9-1-1.'"
The first engine units responded at about 2:15 and were on the scene until about 4 p.m.
"The fire department was there quickly," Lane said. "They got up on the roof and poured water down the flue."
The popular Mexican restaurant is located in the bottom floor of the historic Boccoli Building, erected in 1896. Tenants in the second floor include the Sonoma International Film Festival, which suffered no damage. Firefighters did have to chop about a 6-foot-by-2-foot hole in the roof to make sure the fire hadn't extended into the roof area.
Smoke from the fire could be seen gusting out of the top of the building as a hook and ladder truck from the Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Authority raised a ladder to the roof of the restaurant to attack the fire from above.
Firefighters also entered the kitchen area to spray water up the kitchen flue, but the flames inside the vertical, metal column could not be extinguished from below.
On the roof, firefighters cut the hole near the flue and flooded the fire with a hose from above.
No cause was immediately known, but flue fires are a relatively common restaurant phenomenon, usually the product of accumulated grease and cooking debris.
Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue responded with three engines, a ladder truck and two ALS ambulances.
Division Chief John Franceschi said there was some damage to the second floor office area and estimated damages at around $40,000. "It went out fast, Franceschi said. "There was minimal damage to the building."
Police cars blocked traffic on East Napa and First Street East below Napa.
There was no report of any injuries and employees of Maya and adjoining offices were able to evacuate the building without incident.
Lane said friends and other restaurateurs have been great. "Some have offered their kitchens if we needed it," he said.
Looking back, he said it could have been worse. "We didn't have any injuries ... we had few diners ... if this would have happened at night, it would have been more extensive."
"This is a heck of a way to start a new year," he added
