Grant
Administrator
BELLEVILLE - A fire Thursday morning damaged the Rally's hamburger stand at 1105 S. Illinois St.
The assistant manager of the story had left for a few minutes, but on her return she was greeted by a cloud of smoke, several firefighters and a crowd of onlookers.
"I just went to the bank!" Jeanette Barnett shouted in panic when she pulled up. "I just went to the bank and came right back."
Assistant Fire Chief Ron Bingheim said Barnett told firefighters that she started the grill as she does every morning in preparation for the lunch rush. Typically, another employee watches the store while she goes to the bank. But a co-worker was late, Barnett said, so she figured it would be OK if she just stepped out for a few minutes to take care of business.
Bingheim said the grill ignited, but the flames were kept from getting out of control by the building's fire suppression system.
"That's what kept things from getting out of control, so it really wasn't that bad," Bingheim said. "Once we got inside, it probably only took about a minute to put it out."
Firefighters said they received a call at shortly after 10 a.m. from someone who saw smoke pouring out of the building. In addition to smoke damage on the inside of the building, firefighters had to smash through a drive-through window to get inside.
Barnett said the restaurant would not be reopened for lunch this afternoon.
The assistant manager of the story had left for a few minutes, but on her return she was greeted by a cloud of smoke, several firefighters and a crowd of onlookers.
"I just went to the bank!" Jeanette Barnett shouted in panic when she pulled up. "I just went to the bank and came right back."
Assistant Fire Chief Ron Bingheim said Barnett told firefighters that she started the grill as she does every morning in preparation for the lunch rush. Typically, another employee watches the store while she goes to the bank. But a co-worker was late, Barnett said, so she figured it would be OK if she just stepped out for a few minutes to take care of business.
Bingheim said the grill ignited, but the flames were kept from getting out of control by the building's fire suppression system.
"That's what kept things from getting out of control, so it really wasn't that bad," Bingheim said. "Once we got inside, it probably only took about a minute to put it out."
Firefighters said they received a call at shortly after 10 a.m. from someone who saw smoke pouring out of the building. In addition to smoke damage on the inside of the building, firefighters had to smash through a drive-through window to get inside.
Barnett said the restaurant would not be reopened for lunch this afternoon.