Posted on 01/18/2014 3:56:26 PM PST by nickcarraway
Firefighters have put out the 4-alarm fire that destroyed Flames Restaurant in San Jose.
Firefighters have extinguished a 4-alarm fire that destroyed a San Jose diner Saturday morning, a fire battalion chief said.
The blaze broke out in the kitchen area of Flames Coffee Shop at 1812 Hillsdale Ave. around 6:20 a.m.
A few workers were preparing to open the restaurant at 1812 Hillsdale Ave. around 6:20 a.m. when the fire broke out in the kitchen area, San Jose fire Capt. Barry Ehlers said.
Ehlers said two of the employees ran to a fire station located just around the corner and alerted firefighters to the blaze.
By the time crews arrived on the scene about a minute later, thick black smoke was billowing from all sides of the restaurant, the captain said.
Fueled by cooking oils, furniture and other materials, the blaze ripped through the building, causing multiple sections of the roof to collapse.
Firefighters battled the fire from the outside and were able to keep it from spreading to neighboring businesses. The fire was knocked down around 7:30 a.m., the fire captain said.
No injuries were reported.
Marin County Wildfire in Hills Above Fairfax 50 Percent Contained The building was completely gutted by the fire, which Ehlers estimated caused more than $1 million in damage.
Although the blaze apparently began in the kitchen, investigators have not yet determined the exact cause.
Ehlers said about 75 firefighters responded to the fire, many of whom remained on scene as of 9 a.m. to root out hotspots.
Traffic is being diverted around Hillsdale and Ross avenues and onto nearby Camden Avenue.
There are at least three of them besides the one on Hillsdale. There’s the one on Winchester you mentioned, another on Meridian, and a third on Santa Teresa.
And I agree. They are tough to beat if you’re in the mood for some basic diner fare.
I loved that place!! :(
Reminds me of the time (several decades ago) when I was aboard a ferry boat named “Fire Queen”, on the way to Fire Island, when the ferry caught on fire.
Not a big deal, one of the crew grabbed an extinguisher and put it out. But maybe that kind of thing happens when you tempt fate.
>Marin County Wildfire in Hills Above Fairfax 50 Percent Contained The building was completely gutted by the fire, which Ehlers estimated caused more than $1 million in damage
SJ is now in Marin Co?? Continental drift is worse than I thought.
I think the Flames restaurant chain split ownership some years ago.
But the one that used to be in Cupertino was excellent. Loved that place.
Dunno.
Drove by the other day and thought I saw something different but, I was in a hurry.
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