PARSIPPANY — Authorities said a blaze that severely damaged the Chevys restaurant and injured a firefighter Thursday morning was sparked by the ignition of grease in a ceiling duct.
The fire was reported by a motorist who saw flames shooting through the restaurant’s roof at about 8:45 a.m. Dozens of firefighters responded to the restaurant, which is located at the intersection of routes 10 and 202, and brought the fire under control by 10:30 a.m.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi said the fire was ruled accidental. Its source was tracked to a duct above a charcoal broiler, and flames spread to the area above the ceiling, he said. Authorities said Chevys was closed at the time of the fire, though an employee was present.
The fire caused heavy damage to the kitchen and bar area, with smoke and water damage throughout the restaurant. Shattered windows along the restauant’s eastbound side were visible to drivers on Route 202 South.
One firefigher sustained smoke inhalation and was taken to a local hospital, Parsippany Police Sgt. Yvonne Christiano said. Information on the firefighter’s condition was not immediately available.
It was not immediately known when the restaurant might reopen. A phone call to Chevys’ parent company in California, Real Mex Restaurants, was not returned.
The fire call brought out numerous fire departments, including Mount Tabor, Lake Parsippany, Cedar Knolls and Lake Hiawatha and emergency medical service personnel from Parsippany-Troy Hills, as well as Parsippany police.
Chevys has been located at the location for more than a decade, which previously was the site of the well-known Llewellyn Farms for about 60 years.
Cleaning Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Systems Since 1971
5734 Bankfield Avenue
Culver City, California 90230
310-636-8361 x 203
Grant Mogford
The fire was reported by a motorist who saw flames shooting through the restaurant’s roof at about 8:45 a.m. Dozens of firefighters responded to the restaurant, which is located at the intersection of routes 10 and 202, and brought the fire under control by 10:30 a.m.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi said the fire was ruled accidental. Its source was tracked to a duct above a charcoal broiler, and flames spread to the area above the ceiling, he said. Authorities said Chevys was closed at the time of the fire, though an employee was present.
The fire caused heavy damage to the kitchen and bar area, with smoke and water damage throughout the restaurant. Shattered windows along the restauant’s eastbound side were visible to drivers on Route 202 South.
One firefigher sustained smoke inhalation and was taken to a local hospital, Parsippany Police Sgt. Yvonne Christiano said. Information on the firefighter’s condition was not immediately available.
It was not immediately known when the restaurant might reopen. A phone call to Chevys’ parent company in California, Real Mex Restaurants, was not returned.
The fire call brought out numerous fire departments, including Mount Tabor, Lake Parsippany, Cedar Knolls and Lake Hiawatha and emergency medical service personnel from Parsippany-Troy Hills, as well as Parsippany police.
Chevys has been located at the location for more than a decade, which previously was the site of the well-known Llewellyn Farms for about 60 years.
Cleaning Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Systems Since 1971
5734 Bankfield Avenue
Culver City, California 90230
310-636-8361 x 203
Grant Mogford
