Sechelt fire department is commending the owners of a Sechelt eatery for having a working fire sprinkler that saved the restaurant from major damage after a fire last Saturday.
The fire occurred in the late evening of Feb. 23 at the Old Boot Eatery on Wharf Road in Sechelt. Firefighters responded to a report of alarm bells ringing. Residents living above the restaurant called the fire department after hearing the sprinkler system water flow alarm.
According to Fire Chief Bill Higgs, members were on scene within seven minutes from the time of notification and performed overhaul and ventilation because the fire was already out due to the sprinkler system.
"Thankfully, this fire occurred in a building protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system and therefore had been completely extinguished by the activation of a single sprinkler head prior to our arrival," said Higgs. "The fire in the commercial kitchen equipment had extended into a wall and across the ceiling of the restaurant. The heat from the blaze activated a single sprinkler head and extinguished the fire. As with most, this fire had the potential for catastrophic life and property losses."
Higgs said, in less than two hours, 24 volunteer firefighters and all apparatus had returned to quarters. No civilian or firefighter injuries occurred. All residents returned home and every tenant except the restaurant opened for business the next day.
Total dollar loss to the multi-million-dollar structure was less than $10,000.
"Compare this result with the total devastation of other fires we have witnessed in our downtown commercial core and you can see why the fire service is such a promoter of automatic fire sprinklers," said Higgs. "Again and again we have witnessed the life saving and effectiveness of automatic fire sprinklers in our town. We encourage others to learn from our experiences and to support our efforts in the promotion and continued use of commercial and residential automatic fire sprinkler systems."
When Coast Reporter visited the restaurant Tuesday afternoon, restoration crews were hard at work and a note on the door said owners hoped to have the restaurant open for business by today (Friday).
