Oversight caused restaurant fire
Unattended cooking may have provoked the fire that engulfed the entire BJ Garden Restaurant in Beach Road Garapan last Sunday, Public Safety spokesperson Lt. Pete C. Muña learned from a preliminary police report.
The blaze, which reportedly started around 5:58am, ate up the structure’s interior and damaged all its contents.
The dining area, kitchen and rest room were not spared from the blaze which firefighters contained at around 6:45am, said Muña. Two fire engines responded to the scene to put out the fire, following an emergency call made by one Fabian Indalecio.
Though supporting structures still stood after the fire, Muña said they have been classified “in dangerous condition,” therefore, unsafe for individuals to set foot in.
According to a preliminary report, the restaurant was not equipped with a sprinkler system nor was there a private fire protection installed within the facility.
Muña added that the half-concrete and half-wooden structure was built without a flame-retardant.
Investigation findings reveal that the fire may have been caused by possible unattended cooking, Muña quoted a statement made by a bystander who had refused to be identified.
The case has been forwarded to the fire prevention unit for further probe.
No one was reported harmed from the fire. (Marian A. Maraya)