Kitchen exhaust fan fire

Fire at Montclair’s Char-Coal Broil in New Jersey

A fire, which started in a kitchen exhaust fan, set the iconic Upper Montclair restaurant Char-Coal Broil (commonly referred to as the CharBroil) in flames last night. Owner Gus Makris told Baristanet that the Valley Road business would “be closed for a while.” Makris’ partner, Stravros Godevos, was taken to the hospital by MVAU for difficulty breathing. No other injuries were reported and the damage was contained to the restaurant itself.

The fire began at 10:05 p.m. on April 19, according to BNN’s dispatch, which reported a working fire in the 1st floor kitchen of a restaurant in a mixed occupancy building. Ten minutes later the fire was reported to have been kindled, and by 10:17 it was placed under control. Searches for extensions of the fire to the apartments upstairs were negative.

UPDATE:

This just in from Deputy Chief Thomas Diveny of the Montclair Fire Department:

2ND Alarm Fire
The Montclair Char Broil
613 Valley Rd, Upper Montclair

The fire started in the latter part of the evening last night. One of the restaurant owners Stravrous Godevos was working in the restaurant office when he smelled a gas odor. Mr. Grdevos called PSE&G to check out the gas odor. When PSE&G arrived he realized that the restaurant was on fire and call 911 to report the fire at 10pm.

The Montclair Fire Department received the call shortly there after, with Engine 2 and Truck 2 from the Upper Montclair Fire Station arriving at 10:03, and reported a working fire. At 10:12 pm Acting Battalion Chief Kevin Berry requested a second alarm assignment from dispatch. All Montclair Fire Department personnel on duty were on scene. Three Engines (pumpers) and two ladder trucks, and mutual aid assistance was requested.

Upon arrival there was heavy fire coming from the rear kitchen area of the restaurant. The Engine 2 crew attacked the fire with a hand held hose lines containing the fire to the kitchen area. The fire was declared under control at 10:14 pm and completely out by 10:30 pm. The truck companies searched the two upstairs apartments for occupants, but found both apartments unoccupied. There was extensive overhauling, were the fire department ensures that there is no fire extension and that the fire is completely out.

Montclair was assisted by the Clifton Fire Department on scene as the fire fighter rescue team (they are in essence the lifeguards, in the event firefighter or firefighters get injured or trapped they go in to rescue those firefighters in danger). The Town was covered by mutual-aid assistance from the East Orange, West Orange and Bloomfield Fire Departments during the fire. All units were released by 11:55 pm.

The fire was determined to be accidental, after being investigated by the Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit. Fire Official David Allin and Fire Investigator John Thomas determined the fire was electrical in nature, an old exhaust fan behind the walk in freezers.

There was extensive damage to the kitchen and heat and smoke damage to the dinning area of the restaurant. The restaurant will be closed until repairs can be made.

There were no firefighter injuries. Stravros Godevos was taken to the hospital by MVAU for difficulty breathing.

This was a great job by the Fire Department by containing this fire to the kitchen and preventing extension to other parts of the building or surrounding buildings.