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Fryer fire at Beach Buoy

The Beach Buoy restaurant was back in business just a few hours after an overheated deep fryer burst into flames April 23. Sechelt fire chief Bill Higgs said the restaurant owner's quick action kept the fire from spreading and minimized the damage.

The Beach Buoy restaurant was back in business just a few hours after an overheated deep fryer burst into flames April 23.

Sechelt fire chief Bill Higgs said the restaurant owner's quick action kept the fire from spreading and minimized the damage.

"She used her fire extinguisher to keep it at bay until we got there," said Higgs. "She did exactly the right thing: shut the power off, called us, of course, and kept it under control with her small portable extinguisher."

Higgs said the fire began around 9:30 a.m. when the fryer oil overheated and flashed into flame because of a malfunctioning timer switch.

Three fire trucks responded to the call, but the fire fighting effort was mostly a matter of watching and waiting for the fryer to cool down. The firefighters used water on the outside of the fryer to help cool it below the flash point but were careful to avoid spraying water on the hot oil.

"It's the same thing as a fire on the kitchen stove top but in a much bigger way," said Higgs.

"It's one of those things that are very touchy. You can't apply a large amount of water, or it will blow up."

Firefighters gave the restaurant owner oxygen because she had been exposed to the smoke, but she did not require medical treatment.

The main damage to the restaurant was from the smoke. It was open for business again that afternoon.